[Noizz]

Originally Posted by nns

edit: You burn more calories doing weightlifting than cardio, IIRC.

While the argument here is that your muscles will burn more calories than normal while they repair themselves after your workout; in addition adding more muscle mass overall will also burn even more calories, it has been grossly blown out of proportions.

Everyone's heard of the 30-50 cal per lb of muscle. Lets say an average person is 160lb person @ 15% body fat = 136lb of muscle. 136lb * 50 cal = 6,800 calories required just for upkeep on muscles alone. At 30 cal = 4,080 cal are required per day. Add in calories required for exercising, brain function, walking, sleeping, etc. and this "fact" is quickly disproved. The more realistic number is around 16 cal per lb of lean mass.

Cardio will burn more calories than weightlifting. Don't forgot your muscles require upkeep whether you're doing cardio or weightlifting.

Originally Posted by clintonpoon88

DO not do cardio! you will only gain weight by intaking more calories than you are burning!!!

IMO, don't think of cardio as detrimental to your gains. Cardio will help you lose the fat and define those muscles you've been working so hard to get. A stronger CV system will increase blood flow to your muscles which you will benefit during your workout. Cardio also increases appetite, making you eat more.

Also, no amount of additional muscle will help improve overall stamina, prevent heart diesease, etc.

Originally Posted by Impulse_x

I went from doing cardio 3-4 times a week to 1-2.

Bingo. To lower the calories burnt while doing cardio but keep the intensity needed to create a strong CV, use high intensity interval training (HIIT). If you're worried about wasting calories, don't run for 40 minutes at a steady pace. Do intervals of light jogging and sprinting. Keep it under 20 minutes and you burn less than 250 cal (depending on body weight), but make sure you get the heart rate up.

Like the fuel system in your car, no matter how big the engine gets, if your pump is working beyond it's capacity then you're limiting your power. And if your injectors are clogged, it's GG. Everything needs to be balanced. That's just my opinion though, I'm sure everyone has different goals but I'm a firm believer of cardio + lifting.

Keep the reps low and lift heavy using compound exercises. If you have a hard time gaining, focus more on weight and form.