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Weight Training or Running?

Lifting vs Running??

As most state here it depends on what you want to achieve but the combination is definitely the best for all round health. I run about 30k per week (3x10) and hit the gym for weights a couple of times per week. I'm not aiming to get big, just stay fit and keep as far away from the medical industry as possible.

I'm in my mid forties, 177cm, 75kg have a resting heart rate of around 50, BP of 110/70, and no issues with blood sugar etc. Admittedly most folk my age have smashed knees from sporting injuries or just from carrying a far too large verandah over the tool shed which prevents running but there are other alternatives such as cycling classes which are great cardio workouts.

Oh and I have worked out another theory - beer credits; that is for every 1km ran then 1 full strength beer can be drank with no effect on weight gain!
 
I wonder if a better title for this thread would be, weight training or cardio?

Personally, for me, I love cardio in general but I hate running. The reason being, running completely destroys my joints. But other forms of cardio are great. Elipitical trainers, bikes, swimming....

I weight train much more than I do cardio though. it strengthens my heart just as much as cardio (I lift without much of a break for 15-20 mins or so and really feel my heart) and I just find it so beneficial in so many ways. Mentally and physically. It's an amazing feeling to be able to feel and see yourself getting stronger. Especially for me, as a woman, and one who has always been a little tiny thing at that! I'm 110 pounds and the other day I was doing reps at the same weight as some over 6 foot tall dude so I felt pretty bad ass. :)

So yeah, weight training AND cardio are good. But I think weight training is better overall. For me anyway. As I said, I'm pretty tiny so I don't want to lose anymore weight. I am trying to gain if anything. Cardio makes that very difficult.
 
depends on your current health. i personally would prefer to run 2 days a week and to do some weight lifting 3-5 times a week to keep the fat off and to keep the muscle cut and muscular <-- lol.
 
djep said:
Lifting vs Running??

As most state here it depends on what you want to achieve but the combination is definitely the best for all round health. I run about 30k per week (3x10) and hit the gym for weights a couple of times per week. I'm not aiming to get big, just stay fit and keep as far away from the medical industry as possible.

I'm in my mid forties, 177cm, 75kg have a resting heart rate of around 50, BP of 110/70, and no issues with blood sugar etc. Admittedly most folk my age have smashed knees from sporting injuries or just from carrying a far too large verandah over the tool shed which prevents running but there are other alternatives such as cycling classes which are great cardio workouts.

Oh and I have worked out another theory - beer credits; that is for every 1km ran then 1 full strength beer can be drank with no effect on weight gain!
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Those stats are really impressive. You're light years ahead of most people in their mid 40s. I find that really inspiring since I figure at my age (31) it is easier to stay fit but the fact that you have is great.

Oh and if you run 30km a week does that mean you drink 30 beers a week? If so I don't think you need to look far to find your health's achilles heel.
 
I'm really surprised at how many people in this thread are pushing one over the other. They are not mutually exclusive at all. While I'm nowhere near the level of djep, I follow a similar philosophy: run 2-3 times per week, resistance 2 times a week, and yoga thrown in for the remainder-- along with biking or walking everywhere. I feel great, and I find that I get the best of all worlds this way.
 
I know the thread is titled thus, it's just that false dichotomies bug me. The real world isn't black and white, and treatements of it as such are as a rule oversimplifications. People may prefer one or the other, but there's no reason why one can't do both.

Actually, these days I generally don't do much in the way of drugs. Other than caffeine and a bit of alcohol that is. Every now and then a puff of herb, but it fucks with my sleep too much. I'd still give my left nut for a regular ghb hookup, but that's not too likely to happen. And besides, my 'workouts' usually take less than an hour of my time each day, other than the yoga which is an hour-and-a-half.
 
Apostacious said:
^ It all depends on what you wish to waste your life doing. If being able to lift a heavy object over and over again is your aspiration in life, so superficial women/men can drool over you and use you/be used, that's cool.

Some dudes waste their entire lives having fun playing games and using online dating sites to meet women/men. Other dudes waste their lives working so they can die rich and alone. Others are obsessed with finding the perfect balance in their lives, without ever achieving it.

But yeah, I think every guy should at least try to get somewhat muscular at least once in their lives.
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Weight lifting isnt all about looking good. It depends on the programme. Infact it is shown to have positive metabolic effects subsequent to excercise far beyond what aerobic activity does. Increase in metabolism, cardiovascular health, bone density, and testosterone... which isn't a bad thing at all. Testosterone plays a major part in regulating male general health. Resistance training can be done as little as 30 minutes 3 x a week. So its about general health maintaining energy, focus, and a stronger body.

Steady state cardio has been vastly overrated in regard to the actual health benefits when compared to high intensity cardio and weight training. It certainly has its place though.

The answer is both. Some basic strength training combined with reasonably intense cardio sessions... dont compromise intensity for duration if you are looking to gain optimum health and desired body composition.
 
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