liftnlady, man I remembered that one but forgot to put it in. LOL Anyway people can start out with this one without weights if doing it weighted is too hard. The first few times were difficult, but now I do it weighted.

It broke a long stall for me. I lost about 20 pounds in 6 months on Atkins. Heavy lifting over the last several years put about 15 pounds of muscle on me, and I'm down a net 30 odd pounds. So, doing the math, I lost 30 pounds overall, gained 15 pounds of muscle (which I really, really wanted!), so I must have dropped about 45 pounds of fat.

The first 20 pounds of fat were mostly diet and cardio. The last 25 pounds of fat were diet and lifting with a LOT less cardio.

Bottom line: I lost more fat lifting than I did on diet alone.

If it didn't work better and faster and easier than straight cardio, I wouldn't have stuck to it. I'm waaaay to lazy to do stuff that doesn't work lol!

- Built

Can anyone verify this? Swimming is my absolute favorite way to get exercise/cardio (I've basically been swimming all my life, yet remained overweight ... see the first post in my journal for details)

Anyway, what's the deal with swimming not being a good primary workout? What's that based on? I've always heard that swimming is great for you (and it definitely feels that way!)

Nick

Well, lessee...

It's good for health, and good for cardio, and the water supports you, so there's little strain on joints or back ...

...But...

It's not resistance training. Personally, I rely on resistance training for my primary workout. It's better for fat loss and body composition.

Only thing I've read is that swimming and biking don't help prevent osteoperosis (sp?).

They wouldn't - not enough weight-bearing to do this.

So would having swimming or biking as your primary exercise put you at higher risk for osteoperosis?

No - it just wouldn't put you at a LOWER one.

ah, okay .. I guess the deal is just that if you're looking for resistance training, swimming isn't it .. but it's still good for a cardio workout

personally (and this certainly isn't scientific by any means), but with the intensity of swimming I was doing (and all I did was swim during this time), my arms were built up to the extent that I could beat all my friends (some of whom DID work out, as seniors in HS) in arm wrestling

Yup - it's great to be a boy!



You do get some resistance benefit from all cardio. And I surely do love to watch men swimming the butterfly!

Quote from Built "I suggest that you NEVER do cardio before you lift, because if you do it AFTER, you will burn more fat and build more muscle. The other way around, you'll just get tired and hungry. You'll also risk poor form, because you'll be tired when you lift. EITHER do about 20 minutes of moderate cardio (fast walking) right after lifting, or do it on alternate days."

Question: Is there any scientific explanation for your advice BUILT? I have been told to do my cardio before weights as kind of warm up (this of course might be complete rubbish - I have never exercised seriously). I am starting exercise again but I am going to a gym at work on my own and would like to do things right. I have been doing 20-30min cardio first and then weights - is that wrong?

Thanks
Vess

Answered in your journal

Dan.....i have a question. i wanna know how i can tone my arms, the exercises i am doing is making bulk instead of shape..

Built...u sure are in inspiration.... u have come a long way. what kinda diet were u on?