Cardio or Strength Training?

OK, so I know you're supposed to do both to be in optimum fitness, but most of us have a preference. Which do you prefer, cardio or strength training?

For me, I'm a cardio girl all the way. All the fitness activities I enjoy involve cardio training. My favorite is step aerobics. I love putting in a video and following a great, complicated step routine. The more twists and turns the better. Between the good music, the fun steps and the runner's high - it just makes my day.

I also enjoy bicycling, hiking, tennis, basketball (although I'm not very good) and even just walking. While I do have a treadmill and an elliptical, I much prefer getting outside whenever possible.

Strength training, on the other hand, is boring and monotonous. And just not any fun! It's more like work - I do like the way it makes me feel, but it's like watching paint dry.

What's your favorite workout? How often you workout?

 

If I had to pick one, strength training, though there is an obvious role for cardio too. If the goal is overall health and stamina, it really can't be an either or.

Concerning how often I work out, three times a week for a full body workout at the gym, and daily routines (e.g., resistance training, light cardio, etc.) on my own or at the office.

 

I prefer strength training only because I burn more calories, feel stronger and have more stamina and endurance to complete other workouts. I like how strength training helps to define your body and muscles. You can literally change the entire shape of your body that cardio workouts such as walking alone would not be able to accomplish. I especially like to strengthen my core which helps my back and minimizes lower back pain.

 

I like cardio work out. To me cardio burns more calories than strength training. I love the stamina i get from running on a treadmill and it really get my heart beat up. I also walk and do tae bo. these are all good cardio work out that do. so, my favorite is cardio.

 

If I absolutely had to choose between the two I would go for strength training via lifting weights. Weight training is my bread and butter however I do incorporate a very little bit of cardio into my regimen. I do full body workouts three sometimes four days a week. I keep my cardio to a bare minimum because I like to maintain my muscle mass and as we all know too much cardio can deplete muscle mass gains. Both are excellent forms of exercise and for sure will keep you healthy with consistent use but each one has to determine their fitness goals and build an exercise regimen around those goals.

 

If I had to pick between cardio or strength training I would go with cardio because that is the best for me right now. I enjoy doing workout videos from home because it's fun and you don't have to worry about paying a gym membership which can be pretty expensive. I really do save a whole lot of money by working out at home so this is the best way for me to get in shape. I used to exercise at a dance studio during dance class and one day I'll be getting back to that again. Besides the cardio workout videos I do from home I also try new workouts. I like a variety of exercises. My favorite workout is most definitely dancing because I've been doing it ever since I was 4 years old. Right now I workout a few times a week but I plan on doing it every single day real soon because I love to exercise. Exercising helps me feel a lot better so it's an all natural cure for me.

 

Strength training would definitely have to be my favorite. But only because my goal is to gain weight. I love to dance and take classes a couple times a week though. And that's what I consider my cardio. But just putting in my headphones and hitting the weights is fun for me. Especially when I start seeing the change in my body. My clothes fitting better and getting compliments from my family and friends. That's the greatest feeling. I also love that sore feeling after a good workout. People asking me why I'm limping at work "leg day" lol! I feel strong and confident. Strength training all the way!!!!

 

I enjoy strength training the most. I like moving slowly with the free weights or cable machines to burn my muscles. Results are visible from strength training faster than from cardio-vascular workouts. Strength training produces high levels of energy for me to use throughout the day. Cardio exercise makes me feel tired and run down.

 

I prefer what I think you are classing as strength training.

I cycle a lot, anything up to a couple of hundred miles a week and I can go all day at the same pace. I'm not a sprinter, I'm an endurance person. I will hold the same average speed no matter what the distance; so 100 miles will take me 10 times as long as 10 miles (ignoring rest breaks), and 50 miles will take me 5 times as long as 10 miles. I rarely look like I have done anything and I certainly don't build up a sweat unless it has become very hot and sunny and I have had a lot of hills to climb. It's certainly not cardiovascular (unless I am going uphill), but is great for burning off fat and leaving you fit and lean.

My partner on the other hand is very much the sprinter. I hold him back at the beginning of the day, and support him at the end of the day. He helps me on hill climbs apparently!

I am the same with my walking, hiking and mountaineering as well. I never look like I have put any effort in and I am always the slowest at the start and the fastest at the end of a walk/climb.

 

I enjoy doing cardio exercise because right after every session I feel like I just lost some fat already. Althought, I do strength exercise as well because it is needed for greater results. To keep it simple, cardio exercise is for loosing weight and strength exercise is for maintaining it.

 

For me, I would go for the cardio training first. Because it will tone your muscles plus it gives us the necessary stamina for strength training. We should take into consideration that whatever we do with our body will impact on how we do other things. It is like having a domino effect. If you are well trained first in a sequential manner such as taking the cardio training first, you will last longer in the strength training because you already have the stamina needed to lift heavy weights.

In the world of boxing, It is always needed to build the stamina first before the strength tests or power bag trainings because to be a powerful fighter you need lots of training not only by body but by heart as well.