Jane Fonda or Bowflex-babe?

Lifting weights the other day, I couldn't help but notice/stare at this woman pumping iron alongside me. She seemed about my age, wearing a sportsbra and tight little shorts, and was frigging cut. Like, six-pack, strong shoulder muscles, quads you could bounce a quarter off of. But she was quite slim...not bulky like a competitor.

Anyway, I struck up a convo, asking her if she'd ever taken the body pump class at our gym. This class is ridiculous - you line up rubber-coated dumbbells in every weight from five to 20 pounds next to a step and the drill sargeant instructor procedes to fatigue every muscle group to exhaustion, biceps to glutes. I rarely take classes, except yoga, but this body pump class kicks my butt (in a great way) - it's how I was finally able to start doing full-out push-ups, no knees.

So, anyway... She said no, she doesn't like classes and hardly ever does cardio. I was a bit shocked-even though I know muscle burns more calories at rest and takes up less space than fat, I couldn't believe she wasn't on the stairclimber every day to maintain her cut physique. She said, "I see all those girls downstairs, sweating for hours on the machines, and I just want to say, 'Come lift weights! It's the way to go.'"

As for me, I love the mental release I get after a good cardio workout - I sweat so much, it's Michael Jordanesque, but it just feels so delicious! I tend to lift weights about twice a week (upper body-I know, I know, I should do lower body, too). Love the way strong, toned arms look on a woman-those yoga bods. So impressive!

So, do you think you could give up cardio and just hoist weights? Even if it would help strengthen your bones, firm your fanny, incinerate calories just watching Grey's and let you intimidate the guys because you can bench half your weight? Or do you love/crave the feeling of a 30-minute sweat session so much, you couldn't give it up? I guess I'm a combo gal. And you???

Comments

Darn you, Leslie - making me think again:) First the breast cancer question & now this. Just this morning a trainer at my gym pulled me aside to tell me I'd get the body I want (leaner, more toned) if I dropped several days of cardio (gasp!!) and focused more on the weights. As it is I do cardio 9 times a week (not days, I can count!) and weights 5. Now reading this, I wonder if he is right. There's a whole body of research supporting the less-is-more cardio approach. Oh but I love my sweat fests!! Good for the soul, my runs are:) I'm very interested in hearing what the rest of you have experienced!

I could not live without cardio. Running has saved my life and my sanity and I refuse to be unfaithful to it! I do try to get some weight lifting in 2x a week though and I've been doing some pilates as well.

The whole "less is more" approach to cardio pisses me off to be honest. Our bodies were built for endurance. We were built to run.

I'm sure weight lifting is all good and well but cardio will always be the king of exercise and I don't care what anyone else says. I say a mix of both is best but will never be convinced that over an hour or so of cardio is a waste of time...it just isn't...it isn't!

Now I'm all riled up...need to go for a run...

I am so easily bored using machines and weights that I'm pretty strictly cardio. I figure I get enough lifting working around the house, doing wood, and gardening.

It's interesting you pose this question now. I just started doing this "body for life" program. It's 6 days a week, 3 days interval, high-intesity cardio - only 20 minutes (that's what the plan says to do), and three days tough weight lifting. I'm still having a hard time reconditioning my brain to feel like 20 minutes of cardio will ever be enough to see results. I only started 3 weeks ago, and I'm definitely a lot firmer...

Then again I did a boot camp fitness class, outside, at 6 am for 9 straight months and only lost 3 pounds... so I might not be a good gauge for anything!

I think the best thing about it is that the workouts take such little time, there's really no reason to ever skip a gym day. So that alone might be why I'm firming up. :)

OK, look out, I'm putting on my "Little Miss Judgmental" hat,lol
Personally, I worry about folks who don't do any cardio, because, while it may not get the same kind of cosmetic results that lifting weights does, it's really important for heart health. That's not to say I don't stregnth train; I do. I think it's important to mix it up and get all kinds of exercise, like pilates and yoga. Plus, like many of you mentioned, cardio is a GREAT way to clear the mind. I don't know what I'd do without my bike rides,lol!

i also like the release that cardio provides, but weight lifting kicks my butt like cardio never could. so, it's both for me.

I find there are benefits in both cardio and weight lifting. I love doing classes at the gym (Zumba is my new obsession) or hopping on the eliptical trainer or treadmill with my music and just letting the world slip away...or even better, slipping on my sneakers and hitting some trails. But there's a great feeling of accomplishment in moving up to that next weight, or feeling your muscles develop that you just don't get from cardio. So yeah, I'm definitely both.