Cardio or weights, is cardio a waste of time for me?

losingitseattle

katem999 wrote: »

dixiewhiskey wrote: »

I'm curious but what is your lifestyle like that makes you so time limited? Stronglifts 5x5 is a lifting program you could do at the gym for 25-30 mins three times a week. Cardio can be donein your home with no equipment. Tons of videos out there for frwe online. Thoughts?

Yeah I didn't mean Pump at all.. Lol it sounded like you go to a gym where there are more classes offered. I workout at the Y so I have barbells, ridiculous classes similar to Pump as well as some other classes, swimming and sports to choose from. I mean you know your schedule best but people always use time as an excuse. Even if you're doing cardio for ten mins or walking around instead of bussing or driving everywhere, every bit counts.

I'm really trying not to "excuse" myself; I used to get to the gym for 7-8 hours a week when I worked full time, as well as a lot of walking (we don't have a car). But now I'm home with a 2 year old and a 10 month old and I really have very little in the way of time. My husband works full time and is doing his phd, and apart from my mum who also works full time we have no family nearby, so I'm in charge of the kids almost 24/7, and at this age, there's very little in the way of exercise I can get done with them around, apart from walking, which I do a lot of. The gym I've joined has a crèche so I can go there a couple mornings during the week, and then again once on the weekend.

Enjoy those little ones while you can!! Time goes so fast!! I started teaching classes when mine were 2 and 5 and I'd drag them to the gym with me all the time. It's a lot of work so don't be too hard on yourself. Life won't always be so intense where they need you to be with them 24/7. Mine are 12 and 15 now and I'd give anything for another few baby/toddler moments even though they are awesome young men.

bendyourkneekatie

losingitseattle wrote: »

katem999 wrote: »

dixiewhiskey wrote: »

I'm curious but what is your lifestyle like that makes you so time limited? Stronglifts 5x5 is a lifting program you could do at the gym for 25-30 mins three times a week. Cardio can be donein your home with no equipment. Tons of videos out there for frwe online. Thoughts?

Yeah I didn't mean Pump at all.. Lol it sounded like you go to a gym where there are more classes offered. I workout at the Y so I have barbells, ridiculous classes similar to Pump as well as some other classes, swimming and sports to choose from. I mean you know your schedule best but people always use time as an excuse. Even if you're doing cardio for ten mins or walking around instead of bussing or driving everywhere, every bit counts.

I'm really trying not to "excuse" myself; I used to get to the gym for 7-8 hours a week when I worked full time, as well as a lot of walking (we don't have a car). But now I'm home with a 2 year old and a 10 month old and I really have very little in the way of time. My husband works full time and is doing his phd, and apart from my mum who also works full time we have no family nearby, so I'm in charge of the kids almost 24/7, and at this age, there's very little in the way of exercise I can get done with them around, apart from walking, which I do a lot of. The gym I've joined has a crèche so I can go there a couple mornings during the week, and then again once on the weekend.

Enjoy those little ones while you can!! Time goes so fast!! I started teaching classes when mine were 2 and 5 and I'd drag them to the gym with me all the time. It's a lot of work so don't be too hard on yourself. Life won't always be so intense where they need you to be with them 24/7. Mine are 12 and 15 now and I'd give anything for another few baby/toddler moments even though they are awesome young men.

People keep telling me that at the moment! We went to a cafe yesterday, and my 2 year old was looking particularly cute in her big purple raincoat, and 2 separate tables of women started gushing over her and then telling me to enjoy it and how there's are 18/20/etc now.

They had a good time in crèche today, and I got a decent workout in, but I may just ease into the whole gym thing for a few weeks before getting my courage up to start on the heavy weights.

dixiewhiskey

amyrebeccah wrote: »

dixiewhiskey wrote: »

I'm curious but what is your lifestyle like that makes you so time limited? Stronglifts 5x5 is a lifting program you could do at the gym for 25-30 mins three times a week.

Question about that--I've done stronglifts and some of my own variations for the last few years, and I've never found that I could do it that quickly, even when I was going light. 2 warmup sets with the bar, plus 5. Three lifts, so that's at least 21 sets on non-dead day (With something like squats or deads, I'd usually be doing at least one or two more warmup sets with gradually progressing weight, but let's leave that aside for now.)

Are people really taking less than a minute between sets? I didn't see that in the program and I'm honestly not trying to grill you, but I've seen this kind of thing posted before and I was wondering if I was missing something that would make this more thinkable.

I am not sure about others but I take at least 60-90 seconds before doing the next set in the Stronglifts workout. Take the time you need so you can do it right.. And by right, I mean be challenged enough yet maintain your form. Never rush, that's when bad things happen.

dixiewhiskey

amyrebeccah wrote: »

kami3006 wrote: »

amyrebeccah wrote: »

dixiewhiskey wrote: »

I'm curious but what is your lifestyle like that makes you so time limited? Stronglifts 5x5 is a lifting program you could do at the gym for 25-30 mins three times a week.

Question about that--I've done stronglifts and some of my own variations for the last few years, and I've never found that I could do it that quickly, even when I was going light. 2 warmup sets with the bar, plus 5. Three lifts, so that's at least 21 sets on non-dead day (With something like squats or deads, I'd usually be doing at least one or two more warmup sets with gradually progressing weight, but let's leave that aside for now.)

Are people really taking less than a minute between sets? I didn't see that in the program and I'm honestly not trying to grill you, but I've seen this kind of thing posted before and I was wondering if I was missing something that would make this more thinkable.

Stronglifts says to give 90 seconds between sets if they're easy and up to 3 minutes depending on how difficult you find them.

Right, that's kind of my point. How can people do the program in 25-30 minutes?

Everyone is different. It takes me max 30, with 90-120 secs rest in between. The next person may take longer or may be very quick. It's only 5 reps per set per exercise.. I dunno maybe I've just been doing it for so long that I am able to go thru it so quick. I thought 30 mins was long for me..

dixiewhiskey

katem999 wrote: »

dixiewhiskey wrote: »

I'm curious but what is your lifestyle like that makes you so time limited? Stronglifts 5x5 is a lifting program you could do at the gym for 25-30 mins three times a week. Cardio can be donein your home with no equipment. Tons of videos out there for frwe online. Thoughts?

Yeah I didn't mean Pump at all.. Lol it sounded like you go to a gym where there are more classes offered. I workout at the Y so I have barbells, ridiculous classes similar to Pump as well as some other classes, swimming and sports to choose from. I mean you know your schedule best but people always use time as an excuse. Even if you're doing cardio for ten mins or walking around instead of bussing or driving everywhere, every bit counts.

I'm really trying not to "excuse" myself; I used to get to the gym for 7-8 hours a week when I worked full time, as well as a lot of walking (we don't have a car). But now I'm home with a 2 year old and a 10 month old and I really have very little in the way of time. My husband works full time and is doing his phd, and apart from my mum who also works full time we have no family nearby, so I'm in charge of the kids almost 24/7, and at this age, there's very little in the way of exercise I can get done with them around, apart from walking, which I do a lot of. The gym I've joined has a crèche so I can go there a couple mornings during the week, and then again once on the weekend.

It will get easy when the kids are older. When my youngest was 10 months, I did a lot of at home workout videos. Also have no family or sitter and working husband. I hope you can make a plan that works. Even if you go to the gym once a week, just work really hard with the time you have. You can do it

vixtris

I think lifting is important for weight loss if you don't want to lose muscle mass (or at least not as much). I have been alternating days of cardio and lifting and so far have lost 20 lbs. But my diet plays just as an important roll (if not more) than the exercise. I agree with others that during your gym time it would probably be best spent lifting. But don't sweat it if one day you aren't up to it and would rather hop on the elliptical or go swimming. Any exercise is good!

autumnsquirrel

Saving this thread; lots of wonderful information here:)

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andylllI

As you are 10 months postpartum...I just want to caution you on the heavy lifting. When I was at the same stage I needed to get a trainer to help me. She specialized in post-partum fitness and taught me how to engage and protect my core and pelvic floor while lifting. Those compound lifts can really stress your pelvic floor and without a concurrent program to strengthen it I think you may run into issues. I had to momentarily stop deadlifting and heavy squatting. I'm doing a lot of rehab work in conjunction with compound strength movements now and things are better.

For two young kiddos I think you are doing amazing to get to the gym 3x a week. Everytime I go to the gym its by the grace of my husband watching the kids in the evening. I'd like to think it's 3x a week but it's more like 2x a week, full body, compound movements and well...I'm seeing results even with that.

bendyourkneekatie

andylllI wrote: »

As you are 10 months postpartum...I just want to caution you on the heavy lifting. When I was at the same stage I needed to get a trainer to help me. She specialized in post-partum fitness and taught me how to engage and protect my core and pelvic floor while lifting. Those compound lifts can really stress your pelvic floor and without a concurrent program to strengthen it I think you may run into issues. I had to momentarily stop deadlifting and heavy squatting. I'm doing a lot of rehab work in conjunction with compound strength movements now and things are better.

For two young kiddos I think you are doing amazing to get to the gym 3x a week. Everytime I go to the gym its by the grace of my husband watching the kids in the evening. I'd like to think it's 3x a week but it's more like 2x a week, full body, compound movements and well...I'm seeing results even with that.

Thanks so much for this post (thanks to everyone else as well). I've noticed there's a trainer that works at my gym who specialises in post-partum exercise, and while I've been lucky to not have any issues with my pelvic floor so far, having two complicated births to two large babies I don't want to risk it, so I think I'll contact her. Awesome advice.

I'm so loving the gym. It's the me time I haven't had in 2.5 years. I'm sleeping better (even with being woken up 4-5 times a night), have more energy, feel generally happier. It's done more for my pnd than therapy and/or drugs ever did.