why is lifting weights so hard and yet

burns so few calories?

I did a muscle endurance program the other night.  One hour, working each muscle group 4 minutes at a time, a mixture of slow and fast lifts -- now I was only using 6 lbs of weight and, let me tell you -- IT WAS HARD...the first two minutes not so bad, then the last two minutes had me generally trembling with real effort.  So I go and log the calories burned, and find I would have burned more if I had run for an hour.

So howcome cardio and strength training (is that correct to refer to the activities that way) is so different regarding calories burnt?

One thing I have learned is that doing one thing (running) in no way prepares you for doing something else (free weights)!!  I thought my legs wouldn't be in too bad a shape, but they really have a long way to go LOL!!!!

Because in general you lift in short bursts, take breaks in between sets and exercises. So if you lift for an hour, you maybe only did like 15-20 minutes of actual work.

ahhhhhh, good point!

i figure the only real-life reason i may need to run is from a burning building or something like that (at which point i will rely on adrenaline to get me through it!). but i find that lifting weights over time has really helped me in my day-to-day life. last weekend, for instance, we cleaned out our attic, and i lifted, moved, cleaned, swept, you-name-it, for hours without a problem because of my strength training. i do walk on the treadmill or outdoors almost every day, at least a couple of miles. strength training, especially for women like myself of a "certain age" decreases the risk of osteoporosis and the additional muscle mass gives your metabolism a boost. i recommend that you keep trying (and it is hard) and congratulate you on your effort which will, i promise, pay off. someday you will surprise yourself at what you can do. good luck!

I believe I am of "that certain age" or very nearly anyway LOL!

Ideally...provided I can stay GERM FREE this winter (I hate it when I get a cold and my routine is messed up), I'd like to pair strength training (I really liked that muscle endurance class) with running -- which I also really enjoy (makes no difference if it will be of use to me or not, the use of it is in the fitness and enjoyment)-- do the weights a couple times a week and the runs a couple and something new and fun one other night -- my gym has at least 20 new things I could try.

From what I understand I should only be doing weights a couple times a week???

According to my HRM, I burn about 750 calories an hour doing hard cardio, and around 625 calories an hour doing hard weights so it really isn't that much of a difference. maybe you are taking too long of breaks between sets? If you don't have a HRM I strongly suggest it. It is by far my most valuable piece of workout equipment!

I don't burn many cals while doing weights according to my hrm -- but some of the time is the rest between sets and even spotting one person on the bench press and then they spot me - so the whole time isn't actually moving and lifting.

I've heard that the more muscle you have = the more daily calories you can burn. Apparently muscles burn more calories than fat. So it is worth it- even if lifting weights doesn't burn a lot of calories in the short run, it will pay off in the long run!

Getting you guys to do weights is like banging my head against the wall. Weights>cardio all day long for fat loss.

spirochete

don't assume that everyone reads your posts spouting the wonders of weight lifting -- its egotistical, and perhaps the attitude that keeps people away from the awesome lifters.

on_my_way: if people don't want to lift because they don't like me, well that's about the stupidest thing I have ever read.

how can you not love a poster with the screen name "spirochete" - makes me laugh every time i see it...

on_my_way - the metabolic boost you get all day from having a good muscle mass really pays off. when i work to lose weight, like i am now, i almost never hit a plateau and i think it is because i work hard lifting weights. i admire your love of running, however, the "twins" just bounce too much for my comfort, no matter how firm my pecs are!! ~trc

OP, you're looking at weight lifting the wrong way. Dont look at lifing as a way to burn calories. Look at it as a way to raise your metabolism and preserve your lean body mass so your body burns the right types of energies for fuel. (the food you eat and your fat stores)  If you're lifing, you should also look at how bodybuilders eat and eat a little more like them so you can get the best results possible.

Also spirochete is not egotistical. She knows what she is talking about.