Heart rate zones, Strength training

[hjrutledge]

I have been working out regularly for the past 3 months.  I started out working on cardio and recently added strength training in.  By recommendation from my doctor i have done cardio three days a week and yoga for one.  I am wondering if I'm lifting and adding in other exercises as part of my sets such as high knees, abs, toe touch kicks, and I'm keeping my heart rate in the cardio zone, is this also considered a cardio exercise?  I am currently doing Cardio 3 days a week and strength training 3 days, but according to heart rate i'm doing about 25 minutes of cardio everday.  Is this beneficial? Should I be focusing on only weights when i'm doing weights?  Honestly speaking, now that i'm working out almost everyday I feel restless if I'm not constantly pushing myself in a higher heart rate zone.

[MeadeRubenstein]

Everything depends on what you're trying to achieve - I'm a big believer in weight lifting, it not only helps with self confidence (feeling stronger), it also helps with long term weight loss (muscle burns more calories than fat).  Some women think lifting heavy weights makes them bulky...it doesn't - it takes  A LOT of lifting to look big.  

I would recommend a book - New Rules of Lifting for Women - a great starting point OR getting a personal trainer who is educated in weight lifting.

Your heart rate zone results probably reflects that you're lifting a lot, but lifting light weights - to gain real benefit of lifting you need to lift heavier (a lot heavier than you would probably imagine - but as the saying goes - if it excites you and scares you a little its probably the right thing to do).

[Mukluk4]

I would not focus on cardio activities while weight training.  They are two very different activities with different outcomes.  

Not knowing your cardio workouts, and just basing on what I tend to do.  I would increase the cardio activity either in duration (> 25 minutes on those days) or increase the number of cardio days (without decreasing strength training days).  

[hjrutledge]

I have about a 45 minute timeframe where I can workout, usually uninterrupted. Currently I do cardio 3 days a week for 40 minutes. I started at 25 and have made my way up to 40 in the past few months. I do weights the other 3 days, focus on biceps, shoulders, and triceps because my cardio exercises target legs, and obliques. I'm just asking if burning more calories with cardio during weights is more affective or counting towards my cardio? Or if I should do a pre cardio workout before weights or after?

[hjrutledge]

I'm trying to lose weight and make sure my heart is healthy and strong basically. I also would like to tone my upper body.

[MeadeRubenstein]

I would recommend the book - New Rules of Lifting - again.  Cardio is focused on building stamina (lung capacity) where proper weight lifting is focused on strength.  Both are good - for toning you'll need a good diet and some level of strength training (which also helps with weight loss) - for building stamina it's cardio (which also burns calories).  Weight loss is mostly a battle of keeping your calories in less than calories burned (until you get to your desired weight). 

I highly recommend weight lifting as your primary exercise - focus on your goal of weight loss and tone'ing and not reaching step numbers or cardio time.