Cardio or Weights?

QUESTION:

Hi Tony!,

I'm 16 and overeat a lot! I've decided to slim down and look good before I start college!
I have been lifting weights since I was 13, I have a lot of muscle on my arms, barely any fat can be found on my arms.

The problem is, I have a lot of fat around the rest of my body, should I do a lot of cardio and eat less? or keep doing weights and eat less?

This is my last year of High school, so I have a lot of exams and not much time to exercise. What should I do?

Keep up the good posts and videos!

ANSWER:

Ideally you want to incorporate both forms of exercise into your routine for the best results.  Since you do not have much time i suggest lifting weights 3-5 times a week for 45-60 minutes per day, building your routine around the squat, deadlift, overhead press, barbell rows, and close grip bench press. 



Then after the session or on an off lifting day i would do 15-25 minutes of high intensity cardio to burn as many calories as possible.  I would do the cardio 3 times per week.  Be sure to eat enough protein and healthy fats to ensure you do not break down muscle tissue for energy.

Tony isn't a licensed nutritionist yet, so he can't give anyone advice on what  to do.  Please consult your doctor for his professional opinion on a diet/nutrition program that will work for you.

Tony's blog is a journal of his experiences and what has worked for him.   He lists general guidelines and suggestions only.  He is NOT a professional.