Workout routines

Hadvab

Is it healthy to work out twice a day, morning and evening? Or should it only be once a day?

Someone once told me it's not healthy to do workouts twice a day but I feel like I don't get enough time in my morning routine. Which brings me to my next question...

Is it alright to focus on strictly cardio or should I be mixing it up with some strength?

My cardio consists of walking laps, elliptical and stationary bike. I'm getting ready to add squats in the mix but haven't yet. I usually only get an hour in before I have to start getting ready for work.

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!

kaizaku

You can do cardio in the morning, and in the evening use the weights/squats.

Or you can do about an hour of weight training finishing it off with 10-15mins cardio.

TavistockToad

What is your routine?

sijomial

You are doing virtually nothing for your upper body.

Yes add strength training in - don't wait. Don't just do lower body either!

Yes it can be healthy to work out twice day, it can also be a big mistake if you don't recover properly or fuel yourself properly.

You haven't mentioned what your exercise goals are.

Hadvab

sijomial wrote: »

You are doing virtually nothing for your upper body.

Yes add strength training in - don't wait. Don't just do lower body either!

Yes it can be healthy to work out twice day, it can also be a big mistake if you don't recover properly or fuel yourself properly.

You haven't mentioned what your exercise goals are.

I thought I responded but I guess it never went through let's try this again....

I weigh 213 at the moment and I'm focused on weight loss, feeling healthy and good about myself. I'd like to get down to what's appropriate for my height (5'3") which is around 155.

Prior to getting back in the routine of working out I started with strength and a little cardio but I thought maybe focusing on cardio would help more with my goals.

But I would like to hear others opinions and insights instead of just guessing.

JeromeBarry1

Cardio burns calories while you are doing it, then when you stop doing it it stops burning calories.

Strength training, done properly, makes your muscles sore because you've challenged your muscles to do more than they are conditioned to do. This soreness is a result of micro-tears in the muscle tissue. The repair of these micro-tears takes time, protein, and water. Eat enough protein to do that, 1 gram per pound of you body weight per day. Expect water gain while the repair is underway. Wait a couple of days before stressing that muscle again.
The benefit of strength training is that you look better, feel better, and build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat, and more muscle burns even more.

Are you skeptical of anything I've written above?

Hadvab

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

Cardio burns calories while you are doing it, then when you stop doing it it stops burning calories.

Strength training, done properly, makes your muscles sore because you've challenged your muscles to do more than they are conditioned to do. This soreness is a result of micro-tears in the muscle tissue. The repair of these micro-tears takes time, protein, and water. Eat enough protein to do that, 1 gram per pound of you body weight per day. Expect water gain while the repair is underway. Wait a couple of days before stressing that muscle again.
The benefit of strength training is that you look better, feel better, and build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat, and more muscle burns even more.

Are you skeptical of anything I've written above?

Nope, Thank you

DancingMoosie

Working out twice a day is fine, I've been doing it for over 3 years. Mix up your​ cardio and strength. I do cardio daily. Before work, it's a cardio DVD like kickboxing or rockin'body. Twice a week after work I lift ( basic 4-5 lifts plus glutes). One or two mornings might be circuit training (something like 30 day shred or longer) . I'd like to have two afternoon runs and one long run on the weekend, but that does not always happen. They might also turn into cardio DVD days or just a walk. I also try to throw in some yoga somewhere.

TimothyFish

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

Cardio burns calories while you are doing it, then when you stop doing it it stops burning calories.

Strength training, done properly, makes your muscles sore because you've challenged your muscles to do more than they are conditioned to do. This soreness is a result of micro-tears in the muscle tissue. The repair of these micro-tears takes time, protein, and water. Eat enough protein to do that, 1 gram per pound of you body weight per day. Expect water gain while the repair is underway. Wait a couple of days before stressing that muscle again.
The benefit of strength training is that you look better, feel better, and build muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat, and more muscle burns even more.

Are you skeptical of anything I've written above?

Partly true, but an extra pound of muscle only increases calorie burn by five calories per day. An hour of cardio is equivalent to more than 100 additional pounds of muscle. Also, cardio doesn't just stop burning calories.

sijomial

feeling healthy and good about myself

Nice goals.
I would say after being on here for quite some time that it's extremely common when people get to goal weight they are disappointed to find they didn't harbour the body of their dreams under their excess fat.

There's a much better chance of being closer to your dream body rather than simply being a smaller version of your current self if you strength train while losing.
Good luck.