I am over fifty and lead a very busy life. I don’t have much time for excersise. If I only do one thing a week, should I do cardio or weight lifting?
I am over fifty and lead a very busy life. I don’t have much time for excersise. If I only do one thing a week, should I do cardio or weight lifting?
0 Answers
Cubie131 wrote on :
The others are right-weight training builds muscle, which burns fat, and cardio is needed for heart health/calorie burn. There are some good programs that are short. The Firm has several 20 minute workout dvds, so time doesn’t have to be a factor. You need flexibility training as well. Make the time-you only get 1 body!
Ann Rosenstein wrote on :
We all lead busy lives. I rarely encounter someone that tells me they just donât have enough to do. There are two things you need to do first:
1. Re-prioritize your daily activity
2. Set a fitness goal
Iâd suggest you start by re-assessing your priorities. How we spend our time is a priority call. Exercise is fairly low on your list and needs to be moved up.
If you had cancer or another chronic disease would you take time out from your busy life to manage that illness? Of course you would! If you could make time to accommodate treatment of a disease, you can make time to prevent it! Doing one thing a week doesnât do enough to make a lot of difference so it doesnât matter that much if you do strength, cardio or whatever.
I see a lot of people who work out once a week or only on the weekends and they never change, They donât gain or lose weight, they donât look different, their muscle tone doesnât change and they often complain that they arenât getting anywhere.
This brings me to the second thing you need to do. You need to set a fitness goal.
No one can give you a very good answer if they donât know what youâre driving for. If your goal is to make it to the gym once a week, youâre there. Stop reading and move on. However, if your goal is to really change your body or your metabolic profile, then you need to develop a more regular routine. Once you establish exercise as part of your daily routine, you will wonder how you ever managed without it. Try to set aside time in the morning before work or time during lunch or time after work to devote to YOU! You are worth the investment and it is one of the few investments that absolutely positively pays back big dividends!
If you really want to do something youâll find a way, if you donât youâll find an excuse â Frank Banks
lhlady517 wrote on :
I use Jackie Warner’s DVD’s and Jillian Michael’s DVD’s that combine cardio and strength training. I track my calorie burn with my HRM. This works for me.
Tannis Kobrinsky wrote on :
A combo is best. If you can’t find time for cardio find ways to incorporate it into your life. Take the stairs rather than the escalator or elevator when you go to that biz meeting. If you work or live where there are safe places to walk, squeeze in 3 20 minute walks weekly. Find a DVD or WII program to do at home, which will be convenient and save on time expenditure. I’m 57, and have an award winning DVD available on Amazon. If you like Pilates it may be useful – but there are many wonderful DVDs available. Hope this was helpful.
Hollis Wagenstein wrote on :
This sounds like a trick question, but please don’t trick yourself. You need BOTH. You need cardio for heart and vascular health and weight-bearing exercise to ward off osteoporosis. In addition to the terrific suggestions already provided by other members, why not hire a certified, qualified trainer to do a fitness assessment and teach you a basic routine that matches your needs and goals, accommodates your schedule and covers all the fitness bases? We ALL lead busy lives, but it’s a grave deception that we don’t have enough time for fitness. We need to TAKE time for fitness so we can HAVE time for everything else. Good luck!
Jacki Payne wrote on :
Ideally you should do both. In a time crunch, squats with a 5-10 lb dumb bell would give you an overall toning and get your heart rate up. I would start with 10 and work my way up to 50.
rosie battista wrote on :
Weight Lifting for sure. Weight lifting with the correct intensity will get your heart rate up and burn those calories. Most of all, fall in love with the idea. Go to a great gym where you feel comfortable, hire a good certified trainer to help you. BE gently so you stay healthy and uninjured. Schedule it into your calendar like you would an appointment and I think you’ll be surprised that even though you are busy, once you make the firm commitment to yourself you will feel so much better and look more toned and fit, you’ll love it.
MaryJayne Johnson wrote on :
I know exactly how you feel. Unfortunately there are safety issues with “going hard” only one day per week. If you can only set time aside for your self one time per week, I would recommend something you really enjoy and will look forward to. For me it might be a hike or a yoga class. The rest of the week, strive to add physical activity into your activities of daily living. Walk as much as possible (e.g. from the car to the store), use the stairs, stand instead of sit… you get the idea. Be creative in your activity. Find things you like to do in small doses throughout the day. Good Luck!
Linda Middlesworth wrote on :
You really need both. You could just shorten each. You need three days a week of weight training with weights and that can be done in 15 to 20 min. Add in 15-20 min. on the same day. The other 2 days, you could just do 20-30 min. of cardio. If you run that cardio, this would be the best. Be sure and have someone certified in pt for how to do this..both for cardio and weight training.