Cardio and weight training mix??

ihereprae

So I just started to seriously lose some weight about a month ago and I’m trying to find the work out plan that fits me best.
I get bored VERY easily, I’m super inconsistent and I hate being like this.
Along the way I figured out that I can’t really stick with one type of exercise, I’d get super bored and wouldn’t want to do it again the next day which is a problem.
First I was all in for weight training but then I got super sore and wanted to quit within a week, I knew I couldn’t so I shifted to cardio (bicycle machine thing, my family had it sitting around for a looong time) and again, I did it for a week and got bored of it.
So I did some more research about doing it together and I got a little confused. I found some articles that said it’s not a good idea, it’s gonna slow the whole process down. But some other articles said it’s actually very effective.
My idea is that I want to do cardio for 2 days and then weight training for 2 days, and then repeat like this everyday, that way I don’t get really bored and I have 2 days for my muscle to rest.
Has anybody ever done it like this? How did it work for you? If you have any suggestions please please please tell me right away! I want to hear some first hand experiences.
Thank you!!

jjpptt2

Not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy working out. If that's the case for you, then workout specific to your goals, and focus on the end game - not on having fun.

But to your question - yes, a lot of people do both, myself included. As long as you're giving yourself a chance to recover, you should be fine. Going every day can be too much, especially if you're just getting started.

pondee629

"I get bored VERY easily, I’m super inconsistent and I hate being like this" So, stop being like that. Get some discipline and do what YOU believe you should be doing.

"I’d get super bored and wouldn’t want to do it again the next day which is a problem." You should not be doing the same exercises on consecutive days. Problem solved.

Alternate your days, cardio/weights. Start slow, start light. Find a lifting program online and follow it. Bike, treadmill, elliptical or rowing for cardio if you don't want to run outside.

KABO931

Hey there!

I lost a significant amount of weight before by (eating healthy AND) alternating cardio/strength training every other day. I would do cardio T/Th and weights M/W. On weights days I made sure to keep my heartrate up by adding in some jump rope in between sets. I found that alternating like this kept me from getting injured/too sore because the cardio days were great ways to work out my sore leg muscles from weights days.

Best of luck!

cwolfman13

I lift 3x per week (mon/wed/sat) and cycle 3-4 days per week (usually Tues/Thurs/Sun...sometimes Saturday to the gym, but that's typically not a winter thing since it's usually below freezing when I head to the gym on Sat)

BrianSharpe

Variety is one of the things that attracted me to triathlon. I love running, love cycling and have learned to not drown while swimming and I toss strength training into the mix 2 to 3 x weekly.

Another good reason to alternate between strength & cardio is injury resistance.

bazman7323

I do 5x5 stronglifts. It's pretty basic stuff and as you only need to do 3 compound exercises a session you're not getting a lot of time to get to bored. I also do some static cycling afterwards (about 20 mins} . If you've got a way to watch TV during it that also helps if any boredom sets in.

DancingMoosie

I alternate lifting and cardio. I also change up my cardio a bit with different videos and running. Find something you enjoy and something that motivates you and you will send to stick with it. I don't always look forward to or enjoy lifting as something fun to do, but I am motivated by what I can accomplish.

Steph_135

I have always done both at the same time, with a bit more focus on lifting and strength, cause I saw more progress with that. All the best!

AnvilHead

If your goal for exercise is just to burn calories (as opposed to gaining strength/muscle, increasing aerobic fitness, training for a specific event/sport, etc.), just do whatever you want. Running, lifting, roller skating, jumping rope, calisthenics, swimming, cycling, rowing, kayaking, walking, yoga, dancing, workout videos, etc.

If you have more specific goals, your exercise choices will need to be more specific and regimented.

Unknown

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leahkathleen13

I like to do one thing for ten minutes, then switch the avoid boredom. At the gym, bike, elliptical, treadmill, then weights. Finally a slow jog with stretches. It moves quickly and always glad when the ten minutes is up! Takes an hour total, sometimes I’m having fun with the weights and go over.

coderdan82

Have you tried a sport of any kind? I personally like martial arts. It gives me a great cardio workout but when I'm in class I'm so focused on the drill/opponent/technique that the cardio is not even on my mind. It's actually fun and I look forward to it.

Another suggestion: try a CrossFit gym for strength training. They do a different workout every single time so there's lots of variation and there's also a social component to it.

estherdragonbat

I don't do strenuous cardio. I try to walk for 2 hours daily. If I get at least 90 minutes, it's "good enough". On days when I don't hit that, I have a glider in my basement and I'll use that. I strength train with dumbbells 5 days a week alternating between upper and lower-body days. Lower body takes about half an hour, upper and core takes about an hour. Plus 5 minutes warmup and 7 minutes cool-down stretching.