Which is better for weight-loss results?

Cardio or Weight-Training?

Or just a combo of both?

You need both for overall fitness.

Increasing your muscle mass will increase your resting metabolism (i.e. you'll burn more calories doing nothing, the more muscle mass you have).

This is my opinion, but I honestly think cardio is better to emphaisze for weight loss. Strength training can help you build muscle and rev metabolism to burn more calories at rest BUT most women simply can't (biologically) bulk up enough to effect that much of a change in their weight loss efforts. But you do need strength work to tone and make your cardio more effective. Both are ideal.

But if I had to place a bet, the emphasis on cardio for your workout for maximum calorie burning is it.

I work out with a trainer once a week and do a few rounds of strength training on my own. But my core emphasis has been on running/cardio, throughout my weight loss on JC and even now maintaining. The strength training has been awesome for toning my arms, but honestly-- I don't think it's made a lick of difference on the scale one way or the other.

I would disagree and say that strength training is going to be the best for weight loss. That's why trainers will get you on a strength training regimen rather than watch you on the elliptical three times a week. It is true that women will not gain the sort of muscle that men will, we have a genetic cap on how much we can gain (any of the huge women you see in photos are juicing), but increased muscle mass will increase your BMR. Muscle burns fat, and the more muscle you have, the more fat you'll burn. I think it's a good idea to do both. You want to always have a rest day in-between weights, and with anything, intensity is what matters.

This is an interesting question. I think in the SHORT term if you are heavily motivated by the scale going down every single week then cardio will not have as many "scale" challenges because sometimes weight training because of the break down of the muscles and the rebuildig can cause stored water(again ONLY IN THE SHORT TERM) sometimes people MISTAKENLY think that they're gaining muscle and stop.

I have noticed that people who do only cardio have to maintain their weight at very low calorie levels versus women who strength train. I also know that strength training allows for more deviations without the quick gains(at least that's been my experience and a lot of my friends).

Excessive cardio can also stimulate your appetite so you stay in this endless loop of overeating and overexercising.

So I guess the answer to your question depends on your view....short term or long term. At the end of the day I believe a combination is the best. I do a lot of FIRM workouts that combine aerobics and weight training at once. Another advantage to weight training is that you can often weigh more and wear smaller sizes!

Again, do what you LOVE and the results will follow. I know lots of cardio queens who are what they call "skinny" fat so it just depends on the physique you're going for LONG TERM!


Hope

I do agree with Hope in that you do need to do a combination - I didn't mean to say that you should neglect cardio altogether, as it's pretty important. But her other points are important too - it is easier to maintain a weight loss when you have that muscle mass going on.

Also, weight training is just good for every day life. It's GOOD to be strong.

Interval Training!! Cardio and Strength together. Great example is Jillian Michaels' 30 day Shred. The work out is intervals of 3 minutes of Cardio followed by 2 minutes of stregth training followed by 1 minute of abs...then repeat.

Your heart rate is up the entire time you are doing the strength and abs. It's awesome! Anything like that is great.

Hello, I'm new to JC but old time member to activity. I work out (various forms: tennis, beach cruising bike, elyptical, dog walking/running, circuit training) 6-7 times a week but the weight is coming off sloooowww! Really frustating.