Cardio v. weights, what is your blend
 

Just curious, what sort of blend are people out there doing?

Does changing it up change your results on the scale?

I do 7 hrs per week. 3 hrs is strength training. 2 is cardio. The remaining 2 is a cardio/strength combo (right now it's boot camp for 2 hrs per week).

I stalled for close to 3 months so I threw in the boot camp (replaced an hour of Zumba with the boot camp) and almost instantly saw the scale move again.

Next time the stall hits I am going to try spinning. I find adding variety every few months or so does make a difference in my fitness routine.

I work out 4-5 days per week, and alternate days where I do strength with days that I don't. On days that I do strength I do 30 mins strength then 30-40 minutes of running. On days that I don't do strength I run for 1 hour.

I tend to notice that the scale seems to be more related to what I'm eating than what I'm burning, but I still like to get my workout in- it always makes me feel awesome and motivated. Here's what a typical week has been:
Sun: Lifting (routine from my trainer)
Mon: Spin class
Tues: Kickboxing-type class at the gym
Wed: Spin class
Thurs: Lifting (with the trainer)
Fri: Rest
Sat: Run 45 min/Swim 45 minutes

Sometimes I throw in easy morning runs during the week (maybe 30-40 min where I don't worry about pace, etc.) because the classes at the gym are at night and I love to be out in the sun in the morning. I've also been going on hikes and stuff with friends.

I like to change it up- I love to run, but I wouldn't if I forced myself onto a treadmil 6 days a week. I never have to "force" myself to get to the gym, especially for the group classes. It's something I really enjoy!

I will say that I am definitely taking advantage of the fact that it's summer and I am a professional summer bum (i.e. teacher) with a lot of free time on my hands right now. This routine is definitely going to have to be scaled back when school starts.

carrie77, DEFINITELY try spinning right now! It's the best, funnest workout I've done. There is always such great energy in the room and as my favorite instructor always says, "we don't burn calories, we INCINERATE THEM!!!" There's nothing like it!

I run three to four times a week and strength train twice weekly with core work. Also do Pilates three times a week.

I do weights 5 days a week and cardio 6 days a week 2 hours a day. My personal trainer said it is always better to do weights before cardio if you do them the same day.

Also if you are used to a certain cardio work out.. switch it. Your muscles get used to the motions and it burns less calories.. or something like that :).

I do 2-3 weights sessions and 3-4 cardio sessions. Weights last 70-80 mins and the cardio about 60ish ...

I do my cardio on the machines (elliptical, tradmill, or rowing machine)... I love them .... I like not having to think!!! When it comes to our summer here in NZ I hope to jog outside again ....

My current "weights" programme from my trainer has a lot of cardio in it though ... (treadmill sprints, box sprints, dynamic lunges and squats etc as well as weights)

Originally Posted by Jonsgurl0531:
I do weights 5 days a week and cardio 6 days a week 2 hours a day. My personal trainer said it is always better to do weights before cardio if you do them the same day.

Also if you are used to a certain cardio work out.. switch it. Your muscles get used to the motions and it burns less calories.. or something like that :).

Wow ... that is a lot of exercise .... your weight loss is inspiring :)... do you eat a few more calories with all that exercise?

I had been doing some great circuit training but one of my ankles is a bit bothered so I'm taking a break from that.
Otherwise I do a mixture of: 100pushup, 200crunches and 200squat programs, cycling, exercise ball cardio, pilates, 30ds (taking a break from that for a couple weeks).
I'd like to get some arm weights, probably a garage sale. But, I'm waiting until I get to 155 as a reward. Kinda silly, but it is something I really want!
Each week varies for exercise. Last week I did almost 6 hours. This week will probably be about 4ish. Next week will probably be back up to 6 or so.

I have noticed my strength has gone up even though I don't do major weight training. More body calisthenic stuff. I like that better. I have notice my inches drop quicker. I lose the most weight when I combine exercise and eating right. I've noticed that even if I eat high for a couple of days each week, if my exercise is up I still lose about a pound. If I eat well the whole week and exercise then I lose about 2. I'm pretty happy with my results thusfar!!

Pre-surgery, my weekly routine was 3-4 days cardio only (fast walking on an incline on the treadmill and/or stationary bike) and 2-3 days strength training (a circuit on weight machines plus other assorted exercises) + cardio. Always the weights before the cardio on strength training days.

I was just cleared today to start exercising again, and can't wait to get back into my routine. :D

I'm just starting out (May), but I aim for strength training 2 times a week, and cardio 3-4 times a week.

I don't belong to a gym and I suck at weight training (although I do own a set of 4 lb dumbbells) so 99.99% of my exercise consists of cardio (specifically, power walking.) Seems like everyone says "OMG YOU HAVE TO DO WEIGHT TRAINING WTF", but I've lost almost 40 pounds without much of it.

I have been primarily doing resistance training but I circuit train and move quickly from exercise to exercise and it keeps my heart rate up about 150 so I'm getting my cardio at the same time. Win-win. :)

Now I'm starting P90X which has resistance training 3 days a week and cardio twice a week and yoga once a week.

I do weight training (different muscle groups - legs/abs one day and arms/shoulders/back another) 6 days a week and cardio 6 days a week. (I'd like to do 7 days a week, but I usually end up needing that rest day - drat!)

Originally Posted by Brown:
You can lose weight with steady state cardio, obviously, but people usually just mean you aren't going to build any muscle (you will be skinny fat, and not have that tone that women always talk about wanting--which is muscle). The more muscle you have, the more energy/calories you expend at rest.

Oh yeah, I do understand that. It just gets a little annoying for me, because 99% of the people I talk to about my weight loss have this "OMG NO" reaction when they find out I'm concentrating on cardio right now. I know that weight/resistance training is a part of it, too, but I'm looking to actually lose a certain amount of weight before I start adding a lot of resistance training.

(I think I just know a lot of people who think they know better than me what I can handle. *L*)