Brilliant deduction

[ironwill]

This has always kind of baffled me. I play Volleyball with some guys that look very out of shape, but can play seems like endlessly without being more tired than anyone else. Then you have some really thin people that run out of wind really quick. Like a person that runs 10 miles a day, but is still overweight. Its all about the foods they eat. The person that runs has built stamina in there heart and lungs, and obviously some in there muscles, but due to horrible eating habits they look the same, and the really thin person might eat the right foods but does no cardio so there heart and lungs have no stamina. Does that make sense? I just always thought a person who looks in good shape would have more wind that a person who doesn't. I know this isn't rocket science......but!

[SimplyBlessed]

Well that's why some people on here say that doing only cardio will just make you a thin fat person. You have to build muscle to replace body fat in order for your body to run at it's best. Being thin doesn't make you healthy!

[ironwill]

It was really an eye-opener just a total mis-conception I had. Let me ask this if I may. Could a bodybuilder have gr8 muscle mass and tone, and yet have terrible cardio? Does cardio work your heart and lungs different than say weightlifting/ strength training, or are they the same? I'm assuming its beneficial to have both!

[clem]

weightlifting will increase your cardiovascular stamina to a degree, you would be better off than someone who does nothing. However someone who does interval training/distance running will be in better off in terms of stamina. (ps some skinny people aren't skinny cause they eat the right foods)

[ironwill]

Yes, it really suprised me to hear the push for weight lifting, and the fat loss, metabolism benefits. So many people including myself think, if its time to lose a few pounds, well stop eating and go run ten miles. My initial goals were to increase cardio stamina so I wouldn't look like a total slab playing volleyball (wanted to impress my wife, you know.....huh!) and the elliptical training has really helped that, but I thought my physique would improve alot more than it has. With the cardio I obviously require more calories, so I just end up eating MORE of the same junk, to maintain my energy level, but the high fat content keeps my BF% the same, relatively speaking, of course. If I'm off track in any of my deductions please speak up. Much of this is new to me. I appreciate the input.

[oscarmadison]

weight/ resistance training sets up metabolism way longer than "cardio"

according to "A body mass study conducted by The Human Performance Laboratory at The University of Wisconsin demonstrated that weight training of a specific variety and rep scheme elevated metabolic rates (measured though VO2 max) for thirty-nine hours.
In comparison, the average forty-minute cardio session elevates the metabolism for only a few hours post-exercise. True elevation of metabolic rate did not occur if weights were too heavy, involving exercises that were done for less than six repetitions. This involved compound weight-training movements such as squats, rows, bench presses, and curls. The ideal way to do this is not with machines, Pilates, or baby dumbbells, but with free weights. Similar studies revealed a twelve-hour increase in metabolic rate using a program of about eight exercises, four sets each, and using eight to twelve reps taken to momentary completion." stolen from Jon Benson fit over 40 guru



since I've been watching this forum a major bit of consistent advice is cardio alone will not work getting rid of fat.

personally I'm not doing "cardio" or running, elliptical treadmills, etc... but i am lifting weights as prescribed in these pages and so far its working just as promised. I can hear swanso yelling at his screen GET OFF THAT TREADMILL AND SHUT OFF THE TV, GET OVER HERE AND SQUAT THIS BAR!
next dewd can come up in here and bash my take on cardio verses weights but for me its working and is WORK something I think lazy assed americans don't really want to do.

Regards,
Oscar

[fitoverforty]

"Does cardio work your heart and lungs different than say weightlifting/ strength training, or are they the same? I'm assuming its beneficial to have both!"

I think it is beneficial to have both. I am certainly no expert, but I can honestly say that being a runner for most of my adult life I have tried every trick in the book to increase speed, stamina, improve my race times using various diet strategies, or running to the point of exhaustion or injury and not eating right. It was not until I incorporated weight lifting and started making healthy food choices (not just eating less of the same junk I always ate) did I see a vast improvement in my race times.
It all depends on what you like and will stick with. But I believe that if you have those 3 things working together...weights/cardio/healthy food choices...you will see a change in your body not only on the outside, but also your energy levels and over all wellbeing.
Good luck to ya!

[ironwill]

Its gr8 to have real solid info, and real life experiences from people who are actually doing this, and are passionate about it. There's so much hype about what works, and what doesn't, and I don't necessarily trust what's on TV, as you know they're geared to SELL whatever it is they're advertising. Hehe.....also nice to know I'm not the only one in the 40+ category.....

[fitoverforty]

Yeah, the 40+ category has its advantages...for me its only 3 more years and I can try out for the Senior Olympics!! And the funny thing is I'm actually excited about that!

[ironwill]

Sweet, I have no doubt you will kick some serious booty. I didn't know they even had that, but I googled it when I read it, and sure enough. I love to see people reach their fitness goals, and have what they want, I think its awesome! I must admit, I have a hard time admitting I'm 40 for some reason, I feel alot younger than I thought 40 would feel. When I was young 40 was really old to me.....now it motivates me to say I'm in better shape, and feel better in my 40's than I did in my 30's.

[Packard]

Just as your genes determine if you will get big and muscular, they also determine your VO Max.

If you have a genetically determined high VO Max (See, Lance Armstrong) then your training will give excellent gains in endurance.

If, however your body is high in fast twitch muscles and has a low VO Max, then no amount of training will make you a ultra marathoner.

You need to train towards your genetic strengths if you want a maximum result.

[ironwill]

I've noticed when I run on the elliptical, I settle in with a HR bettween 155-160 which puts me in the upper half of anaerobic for my age group. Not sure if that gives me any indication, or even if that healthy, but I did see a chart somewhere in regards to VO2 max, and athletes that had incredibly high numbers. I remember Lance was way up on the list. I suppose I can do HIIT on the elliptical, can't I?

[Boss Man]

The other thing as well with VO2 max, is that after the age of 25, it decreases by about 1% a year.

[ironwill]

Does it become unhealthy per say, at some point to train up near your V02 Max?

[Boss Man]

I wouldn't have thought so, unless perhaps you had some sort of Heart defect / anomelie, or perhaps were taking stimulants that induced very high Tachycardia.

However you would have to be aware, that by using more Oxygen, training near to VO2 max, would almost certainly incur more Lactic Acid buildup, as Lactic is caused by Glycogen usage after Oxygen depletion.