Weights VS Cardio?

I was just wondering... When I first started my weightloss, I did mostly cardio daily with maybe 15 min. of weights. Now that I'm pretty much at my goal (Within 10 lbs.), I'm not very toned. I have what I'll call "skinny-fat". My legs for example are "narrow" but not toned. So, can I lose weight by doing weight machines (leg extensions, chest press, leg curls, etc.) alone without cardio plus keeping up my healthy eating, or is cardio necessary? Thanks guys!!

I don't know about weight loss without cardio - but just remember weights doesn't burn as many calories so you may hve to eat less.  I would maybe up your weights to 30 minutes 3 times a week and do cardio the other days and reduce it by the 15 minutes on the weight days if time is an issue - otherwise I would do both.

The more muscle you build, the more calories you will burn over a 24 hour period, set your weights up like a circuit and keep moving from one exercise to another non stop. This is of course AFTER you do at least 20 minutes of HIIT cardio, the combo of the two will jack your heart rate up and lean you out and keep your muscles nice a tight.

You need to do cardio still, to burn off calories, and to just maintain your "in-shape"-ness.

I know what you mean about being narrow and not toned, tho. Weights will do the trick though! Do more than 15 minutes tho. To tone, do 3-4 sets of each exercise, 30 reps each or so, at a lower weight. This tones instead of bulking you (which would happen if you upped the weight and did less reps).

My personnal trainer has me doing first 10 min. warm-up on treadmill. then weights for 30-40 minutes. she has it to 3-4 sets/15 reps with slight increases each week.  I take a 1 minute break between sets to let muscles relax so I can finish the other sets.  Drink water, more water also.  After weights is cardio machine, mainly the elliptical rider (increase a level a week) for 40 minutes 3 times a week and 2 days a week for 20-30 minutes.    I have dropped almost 2 pant sizes since Jan.  Also, what you put in your mouth makes a difference on lossing the flab, Quality (wheat vs. white flour, etc.)  and Quantity (portion control) of food you put into the mouth.

i have 27 pounds to go, i have 4 weeks working out with 30 min of spinning from mon to fri, and eating less as i used to eat before, i have lost a total of 13.2 but i cannot see the difference of when i started...

should i quit working out and continue dieting only in order to loose all the weight, is the spinning time affecting my loss weight in some way... what i should do... i love spinnings, but i will love it more if i at least loss weight...

Coldprincess keep spinning! U.S. Federal Dietary Guidelines contain a directive that adults should have at least 30 minutes of moderste-intensity physical activity daily to maintain health.  They go on to say that 60 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity on most days is needed to maintain weight and 60-90 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise is needed daily to sustain weight loss.  I assume that they are basing this on the average recommended daily calories but the artical didn't say.  Keep spinning or spin more if you need to lose weight.

source: Alison Roberts - Scripps Howard News Service

Kujayhawk,

Anie will not bulk up if she ups the weight.  In fact she will tone faster and tight if she does up the weights.  Women cannot "bulk up" we don't have the body chemistry for it.  Women who get huge are usually using steriods and spending several hours in the gym everyday.

Anie,

For toning it is best to use some heavier weights and fewer reps and fewer sets.  Ask any trainer.  I lift till failure most days and I am getting really lean muslce.  No bulk

What is spinning?

ashleylm- spinning is an indoor biking class.

coldprincess - usually you won't really "see" a difference until maybe 20 - 25 lbs and also depends on where you are losing it.  I know for me it was the chest and face and wasn't until I lost about 30 lbs that my pants started slipping.

agana is right.   Girls don't have the high levels of testosterone that men have so they can't BULK up by working with heavier weights like men can.

So do not be afraid to use the weight machines.

There's a process for building muscle or strength training that a lot of people use.

You start by trying to find the maximum weight you can lift/push/whatever for each machine you plan to use.   Then set your weight at 80% of that for the first week... then 90% of that for the second week then the whole max you could previously move on that machine for the fourth week.... then retest... and start over.

This works out pretty well.   You do 3 sets each time of around 10.

Remember girls don't get big bulky muscles so you need not worry about the results.   You will get more tone and in shape without adding big boyish levels of mass to your frame.

Initially I did mostly cardio and lost inches and weight, for about 2-3 months  I have been doing a weight lifting class 3x a week and have lost 1 pant sz. with little to no cardio some weeks, so it depends where you are with your muscle vs fat type thing.

Cardio and weight together will give you beutiful results, so don't stop, you will see results when you least expect it.

About the bulking...I have a few girlfriends that are thin normally, but once track season started (in HS) their thighs got HUGE (muscle) and then went back down again after. That's all.

I think that biking would really help tone the legs. Try the spinning thing. I used to roller skate/blade alot and that was enough to completely freaking rip my leg muscles, I'm talking from the calves all the way up to the Quads.

hi, I am 35 yrs working woman (desk work), pear shaped, 85 kgs,5.4? height.,ratio 40?-35?-50?. I?d like to have a nice well toned body. Do i need to keep a tab on the "weight loss" or "inchloss" or are both important? I am looking for a programme that I shd follow and the time frame. My gym is very basic, treadmill,elliptical ,multigym, manual row only front rowing, cycle, fee weights. Do protein drinks help on a weightloss programme?