Stronglifts 5x5 for Women

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Rest days/Cardio with Stronglifts

melodiclyrics
melodiclyrics Posts: 82 Member
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Can I get some quick advice - I know with stronglifts the general recommendation is the day between your lifts is a rest day so your muscles can recover, and if you plan on doing cardio, you do it after your lifts. Can my "rest" day include easy bike riding, or maybe roller skating? I have a pretty significant amount of weight to lose, and I'm doing Stronglifts/Starting Strength as a matter of not losing muscle mass, and training the muscle I currently have to be more efficient.

I know that the lifting programs aren't really designed for weight loss, and I definitely need all the help I can get with that! :) I also am trying to maintain healthy habits.

Thanks a lot everyone!

Replies

  • lwhayes820
    lwhayes820 Posts: 145 Member
    Hi,
    I'm just starting Strong Lifts, too. And, like you - I have a significant amount of weight to lose and am also planning to do 25 min of HIIT on 2 rest days per week. Some other programs recommend training this way. I know Strong Lifts doesn't, but I'm sort of combining programs.
  • melodiclyrics
    melodiclyrics Posts: 82 Member
    @lwhayes820 I'm considering doing that as well - I have a lot of at home programs I could do, plus I'd like to start Couch to 5k, I just don't want to do anything detrimental to my lifts. I have enjoyed lifting so far, I just also want to start shedding pounds so I can see the muscle that I'm working on! :lol: Thus far I haven't felt too sore, but as my lifts get heavier, I expect that the soreness is imminent.

    Do you mind if I add you as a friend on MFP?
  • megemrj
    megemrj Posts: 547 Member
    I just started strong Lifts and do some form of cardio every day. It is not always intense or heart racing but gets the job done. As long as my body allows it, I don't plan to stop. I consider cardio is for me whereas the lifting is for me and the fat.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    bike commuted 5 days a week, when i'm working. post-lifting took some of the edge off my speed, but i can't say i ever felt like it damaged my lifts. if you were training for a specific goal with the cardio you might have to choose a tradeoff, but for just general stuff i always felt like it was good for me to keep moving and also to change up my movement patterns by doing something different.

    i find that lifting can take over my life very fast, to where i only become concerned about whether i have mobility/range in the patterns i need for the lifts.
  • melodiclyrics
    melodiclyrics Posts: 82 Member
    @canadianlbs Thanks for the perspective. Yes, it definitely can take over quickly - since I'm not doing SL to be a powerlifter, just to get better with lifting and develop muscle, I shouldn't be so afraid of "hurting" my lifts.
  • 5minty
    5minty Posts: 85 Member
    I started cycling last year and really enjoyed it, so as soon as the weather gets decent I want to get back on my bike on my off days from the gym as I have more than a few pounds that I would like to be gone!! I will have to see how it goes, as until I start cycling regularly again I don't know how the bike or SL's will affect each other, see how it goes I guess!
  • sarah___mac
    sarah___mac Posts: 13 Member
    @melodiclyrics personally, I found I preferred to add cardio on SL days rather than on rest days, but at the end of the day (so do the weight lifting in the morning and the cardio in the evening). I liked it because 1) your muscles are "fresh" and rested for the lifts 2) you dont have terrible DOMS (yet) if you do cardio same evening) and 3) you still get a true rest day

    just something to consider :)

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