No Cardio....Body Fat Loss?? - Page 2

susan p · 01-21-04, 02:29 PM

Bodies are different. . . I hear a lot of people saying they lose more fat doing strength work. I'm in my fourth week of mostly ALL strength and very little cardio except what is in my Firm tapes.

It is NOT working any miracles.

I need my cardio for cardiovascular health, I need it for my mental health, and I think I need it for weight loss.

I'm adding it back in now.

I think whether you lose weight better with strength or cardio or some magic combination of the two depends on what kind of muscle fibers you have and what kind of build you have.

Mindi · 01-21-04, 03:15 PM

Well whatever works for one, is the way to go definitely.

I guess I'm lucky in the sense that I don't have to do cardio to lose bodyfat, and since most of it bores me to death, that's a GOOD THING (Martha Stewart)

I do love kickboxing though so that's my saving cardio grace.

sheepla · 01-21-04, 03:18 PM

I was convinced that it could be done and tried elminating (or almost eliminating) cardio for a couple of months and really increase my strength. I definitely gained a few pounds, without changing my diet at all. On the other hand, I really liked my strength results, so it's a mixed bag. I've since added a lot more cardio back in and started losing weight again. So unfortunately, much as I wanted it to, it didn't work for me.

horsemom2 · 01-21-04, 05:24 PM

about the only thing that seems to work for me is low intensity cardio including light AWT and eating less. Low intensity cuz otherwise, I am too hungry to eat less LOL

Barb S
who truly believes it is more about the calories in than the calories out and this equation unfortunately just worsens with age cuz of hormonal shifts

hch · 01-23-04, 05:46 AM

It would depend on what you consider "cardio."

In early 2001 I lost a noticeable amount of body fat during my one and only (so far) attempt at serious fat loss. Following a certain program, I lost about ten net pounds but lost more fat than that; I looked as if I lost more than "ten pounds"

and got stronger besides.

The main exercise was intense weight training. I also followed the eating instructions--while they weren't "clean eating" per se, they were a departure from what I usually eat. I am not going to guess how "important" each component was by naming a percentage, but I would rather exercise that way and eat whatever than eat that way and not exercise at all. You can tell that I'm not one of those "eating is 90%" people.

The program also incorporated a daily walk; while it was a step up from my normal activity, it didn't raise my heart rate to any high level (or even the famed "fat-burning zone") and was only half an hour besides, so I wasn't making up for low, low intensity with longer time. I guess I would call it added "activity" rather than "cardio." I imagine that without the walking, I would've seen similar results.

Of course, YMMV; I wouldn't base your predicted results on any anecdotes or single experiences, especially mine.

Seabush, have you examined your body composition?

Of course, the disclaimers:

- Cardiovascular health is important, yadda yadda. At the same time, I've never seen a "cardio"-lacking exercise system that pooh-poohs cardiovascular health; they say explicitly that their programs provide for that health. Even so, I'm not interested in participating in a debate over how valid those claims are.

- The importance of exercise goes beyond fat loss (or "weight loss," if you really insist), but we knew that.

Lees · 01-23-04, 01:00 PM

In early 2001 I lost a noticeable amount of body fat during my one and only (so far) attempt at serious fat loss. Following a certain program, I lost about ten net pounds but lost more fat than that; I looked as if I lost more than "ten pounds" and got stronger besides.

What program were you following? What was your exercise routine at that time?

Seabush · 01-23-04, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hch
Seabush, have you examined your body composition?

What do you mean?

Crystal

ColleenM · 01-23-04, 01:09 PM

I think it can be done but diet would be extremely important. From what I've read here, most people who found it unsuccessful are only mentioning scale weight, and if you are doing a lot of liting your scale weight might go up, not down but not necessarily indicate a higher bodyfat percent.

I do BFL which has 3 cardio segments 20 minutes long and have had excellent results. Diet is also a key factor as is doing the HIIT training for cardio.

Colleen

Mindi · 01-23-04, 01:13 PM

Absolutely Colleen, the nutrition is key.

While I lost bodyfat, I also gained muscle and while my scale weight only weight down 27lbs, the inches lost were significant.

Kimmigirl · 01-23-04, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seabush
What do you mean?

Crystal

I'm not (HCH), of course, but my guess is your body composition as far as a muscle to fat ratio.

Kim

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01-21-04, 02:29 PM
susan p VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Kansas City	Bodies are different. . . I hear a lot of people saying they lose more fat doing strength work. I'm in my fourth week of mostly ALL strength and very little cardio except what is in my Firm tapes. It is NOT working any miracles. I need my cardio for cardiovascular health, I need it for my mental health, and I think I need it for weight loss. I'm adding it back in now. I think whether you lose weight better with strength or cardio or some magic combination of the two depends on what kind of muscle fibers you have and what kind of build you have.

01-21-04, 03:15 PM
Mindi VF Supporter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Iowa	Well whatever works for one, is the way to go definitely. I guess I'm lucky in the sense that I don't have to do cardio to lose bodyfat, and since most of it bores me to death, that's a GOOD THING (Martha Stewart) I do love kickboxing though so that's my saving cardio grace.

01-21-04, 03:18 PM
sheepla VF Supporter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: OK	I was convinced that it could be done and tried elminating (or almost eliminating) cardio for a couple of months and really increase my strength. I definitely gained a few pounds, without changing my diet at all. On the other hand, I really liked my strength results, so it's a mixed bag. I've since added a lot more cardio back in and started losing weight again. So unfortunately, much as I wanted it to, it didn't work for me.

01-21-04, 05:24 PM
horsemom2 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NJ	didn't work for me either about the only thing that seems to work for me is low intensity cardio including light AWT and eating less. Low intensity cuz otherwise, I am too hungry to eat less LOL Barb S who truly believes it is more about the calories in than the calories out and this equation unfortunately just worsens with age cuz of hormonal shifts

01-23-04, 05:46 AM
hch VF Supporter Join Date: Mar 2002	It would depend on what you consider "cardio." In early 2001 I lost a noticeable amount of body fat during my one and only (so far) attempt at serious fat loss. Following a certain program, I lost about ten net pounds but lost more fat than that; I looked as if I lost more than "ten pounds" and got stronger besides. The main exercise was intense weight training. I also followed the eating instructions--while they weren't "clean eating" per se, they were a departure from what I usually eat. I am not going to guess how "important" each component was by naming a percentage, but I would rather exercise that way and eat whatever than eat that way and not exercise at all. You can tell that I'm not one of those "eating is 90%" people. The program also incorporated a daily walk; while it was a step up from my normal activity, it didn't raise my heart rate to any high level (or even the famed "fat-burning zone") and was only half an hour besides, so I wasn't making up for low, low intensity with longer time. I guess I would call it added "activity" rather than "cardio." I imagine that without the walking, I would've seen similar results. Of course, YMMV; I wouldn't base your predicted results on any anecdotes or single experiences, especially mine. Seabush, have you examined your body composition? Of course, the disclaimers: - Cardiovascular health is important, yadda yadda. At the same time, I've never seen a "cardio"-lacking exercise system that pooh-poohs cardiovascular health; they say explicitly that their programs provide for that health. Even so, I'm not interested in participating in a debate over how valid those claims are. - The importance of exercise goes beyond fat loss (or "weight loss," if you really insist), but we knew that. __________________ "It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." The Velveteen Rabbit

01-23-04, 01:00 PM
Lees Join Date: Sep 2003	HCH those are amazing results!! In early 2001 I lost a noticeable amount of body fat during my one and only (so far) attempt at serious fat loss. Following a certain program, I lost about ten net pounds but lost more fat than that; I looked as if I lost more than "ten pounds" and got stronger besides. What program were you following? What was your exercise routine at that time?

01-23-04, 01:09 PM
ColleenM VF Supporter Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sacramento, CA	no cardio I think it can be done but diet would be extremely important. From what I've read here, most people who found it unsuccessful are only mentioning scale weight, and if you are doing a lot of liting your scale weight might go up, not down but not necessarily indicate a higher bodyfat percent. I do BFL which has 3 cardio segments 20 minutes long and have had excellent results. Diet is also a key factor as is doing the HIIT training for cardio. Colleen

01-23-04, 01:13 PM
Mindi VF Supporter Join Date: May 2002 Location: Iowa	Absolutely Colleen, the nutrition is key. While I lost bodyfat, I also gained muscle and while my scale weight only weight down 27lbs, the inches lost were significant.