Cardio vs Weights vs HIIT: Why I Stopped Looking for the Perfect Workout

Part 1 of 4

As a 48 year old man trying to feel healthy for years, I've had the same questions a lot of people have.

Should I be running more?

Should I be lifting heavier?

Should I be doing HIIT?

Should I train twice a day?

Am I losing muscle because I run too much?

Do I stay "skinny fat" because I run and don't lift enough?

Should I fast, or should I eat regularly throughout the day?

How much protein do I really need?

At 48, should I be trying to stay lean, get stronger, or just avoid turning into an old guy who moans and groans every time he gets out of a chair?

Honestly, the answer changes depending on where my mind is at each day.

I've run an ultramarathon. I've gone through periods of time when I did a lot of off the wall workouts. I've experimented with fasting, tried and have lost weight, tried to build muscle, and spent a lot of time wondering if I was doing too much of one thing or not enough.

Maybe you've asked some of those same questions.

The funny thing is, the older I get, the less interested I am in finding the perfect workout. I want to find something that I love to do.

I'm more interested in being healthy and enjoying life.

I want to feel good, and strong.

I want to have energy, which is sometimes the most important and hardest to accomplish.

I want to be around for my wife and kids, but not just around I want to be active with them.

I want to still be able to hike, run, lift things, and do stupid stuff with my grandkids someday.

I don't want fitness to become my life though.

I want it to support my life and my goals.

And one day, I realized that cardio, weights, and HIIT all have things I enjoy.

They each bring something different to the table.

Cardio Isn't the Enemy

If you are a lifter, many will say cardio kills your gains.

Maybe you're right.

But heart disease kills a lot more gains than running does.

The truth is, your heart needs exercise.

According to the American Heart Association and CDC, regular aerobic exercise lowers the risk of heart disease, improves blood pressure, helps with blood sugar, and can even improve sleep and mood.

Those are pretty good tradeoffs.

Personally, I've discovered I don't have to run 70 miles a week to feel good.

Sometimes it's a walk with my wife.

Sometimes it's a trail run.

Sometimes it's just getting outside for a Sunday stroll with the family.

And honestly, some of my best thinking happens during those miles. Along with the ability to just tune out the world and be in my happy place.

Strength Training Matters More Than I Thought

There have been times where I felt like, strength training was mostly about being big.

Now I think about it a little bit differently.

I want to maintain muscle.

I want strong bones.

I want to be able to pick up heavy things.

I want to avoid becoming fragile.

Because ultimately, we don't get younger.

And the difference between being old, and aging while staying able come down to how much muscle we keep or build along the way.

Research continues to show that strength training improves metabolism, blood sugar control, bone density, balance, and overall quality of life.

Turns out, lifting weights isn't about vanity.

It's about longevity.

HIIT Is Great....Sometimes

I love hard workouts.

There's something satisfying about finishing a workout and wondering if you'll be able to walk the next day.

But I've learned that intensity is something to spice up my week, not a main course.

HIIT is fantastic.

It improves conditioning.

It's efficient.

It pushes you.

But if every workout leaves you wrecked, you don't end up loving your days as much. Haha.

As I creep up on 50, it's more apparent than it used to be.

I've learned that more isn't always better.

Sometimes recovery is the workout. This is a hard one to come to terms with in your mind though. I still struggle with this.

Sometimes walking is the workout. I've been cranking up the walking with my wife because it's low impact, and allows us to talk about everything under the sun. So it's not just physical, it is emotional, spiritual, and strengthens our relationship.

Sometimes sleeping an extra hour is the workout. Oh man how much I love extra sleep! Who doesn't! Hahaha

And that took me way too long to understand.

Maybe the Goal Isn't to Win Fitness

I think a lot of us are trying to win at fitness.

Lose ten pounds.

Get abs.

Hit a PR.

Run farther.

Lift heavier.

And none of those things are bad.

But somewhere along the way, I've started asking different questions.

Can I still get out with my kids and have fun?

Can I enjoy a challenging hike to see the view?

Can I carry mulch into the yard without being in pain?

Can I continue to strengthen myself as I age?

Can I enjoy dinner with my family without freaking out about every calorie?

Can I become healthier without making working out my everything?

Those questions matter more to me now than six-pack abs.

Don't get me wrong.

I'd still like to look toned without a shirt on.

But I care more about feeling strong, staying active, and enjoying life.

And that's why I've stopped looking for the perfect workout.

Because I don't think there is one!

Cardio keeps my heart healthy!

Strength training keeps me strong!

HIIT reminds me I still can push myself hard!

And together, they help me become the kind of person I want to be.

Not just today.

But hopefully thirty+ years from now.

Next week in Part 2:

Why Muscle Matters More Than I Ever Thought—and Why It Has Nothing to Do With Becoming a Bodybuilder