Say on a given day I only have 30 minutes to exercise. If my primary goal is to lose fat, would it be better to spend the 30 minutes doing intense cardio exercise, or weight training?

I don't know if it makes a difference to add that my normal routine most contains a balance of both. But occasionally I come up short on time.

Thanks.

Cardio, if burning more calories is what you are after. Weights does burn but not as high a rate.

Then again, make sure your cardio is as efficient as possible in that half hour...buy a heart monitor to stay in your target zone to burn optimal calories.

Hello, Just alternate days. The weights/dumb bells (depending on the reps. and weight.) give fast results in the way of toning up and making you appear smaller. I had results in 3 months when I started the weights. I do agree with the previous poster about aerobics though in reguards to loosing weight. You get to sweat it out.

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Magpie

I would alternate between Cardio/Weights.
Building muscles helps you burn more fat.

Make sure you are on a healthy diet.
a good balance of diet and workout is best way to lose the fat.

Best of Luck,
Cire




[This message has been edited by Cirex (edited 03-05-2003).]

If you normally do a mix of both and you just have a day or two that you're short on time, do the thing that you most enjoy. Both offer great results.

Hi Tasmin,

that is what I am doing. i do cardio then strength training. My days go like this...two miles on the cross country training machine, 45 minutes of strength training...the next day is cardio and 45 minutes in the sauna...and so on.

Sinnrah

Thanks for the replies.

I really mix up my days. Usually I start with about 60 minutes of cardio and either upper or lower body weights depending on the day. I do this every other day, or 4 times a week. Sometimes I will do 30 minutes of cardio and a full body weight routine. Though I have been exercising for years, I recently hit a slump resulting in a 10 pound weight gain. Now, back at it, I am finally starting to see results (took a good three months).

When grad school starts I won't have the time to spend 1.5 hours in the gym, so I need to start trying to figure out the most effective, economical routine! I have a trainer who I see every few weeks, but I find the advice on this board very helpful.

Thanks for the help!