Rest Days

walkinthedogs

I have done some research but would like your 2 opinions on my question. Am I ok to do cardio on my "rest" days. I know Sara is not a fan of cardio, I don't know if SS is, but I am and I actually don't want to give up any of what I do, but I don't want to also be doing more harm than good to my body. I just started the 5x5 SL program (one week in) and I lift Sun, Tues and Fri. (I love saying I lift now, it's so empowering). My cardio is pretty moderate, I'm not a fanatic about anything, at all, ever. I work up and good sweat and put effort into it, but it's not aggressive, I never take first, but I never come in last - here's the rest of what I do pretty consistently:

I walk my dogs pretty much every single day between 1 to 3 miles depending on day. I live on a hill, so we walk, up, down and straight.
Mon - Pilates - cause I like it. Sometimes I stay for Zumba after - because it's fun as hell.
Tues - Lift and swim. I swim on a Master's swim team so it is a coached workout and I'm in the intermediate lane - my lane gets about a mile and a half in. Sometimes it's endurance swims, sometimes sprints so I get a good variety.
Wed - Pilates or some kind of core commotion type of class.
Thurs - Cycle and swim. It's the only time I can work a cycle class in and I also love cycle.
Fri - Lift
Sun - Lift
All the above are about 1 hour of class.

I also usually walk the treadmill or row for 15 to 30 minutes after I lift on Friday and Sunday, again mostly cause I like it. I honestly do not feel like I am overdoing it, but want your opinions. I work 8-5 M-F mostly on my butt, although I try to get up and move, squat, push up, jumping jacks 3 or 4 times through the day, but I'm pretty damn sedentary 8-5. Weekends I'm busy and do no sit a lot. I always thought rest days meant rest from lifting not cardio. Thanks.

SideSteel

What are your goals?
How is your recovery?
Is your cardio impacting your lifting?
What rate is your body weight changing per week?

walkinthedogs

My ultimate goal is to have a strong body so I can be mobile under my own power until the day I die. Genetics are not necessarily on my side. I would like to lose more weight as well, about 25 more lbs., but I don't really have a set number because if I feel good, look good and feel strong at 175, and my BF is at a decent % that'll be fine, if that makes sense.

I am 5'8" and weigh 185 right now. BF was 31% (if I remember right) last time I had it measured by calipers and that was 9 weeks ago at 194#, just FYI.

My legs were super sore yesterday after Fri and Sun lifting, like I had to brace myself to sit down and stand up sore, but they feel better today. My back and shoulders were what I call a good sore and they are just slightly sore still today. I may have overdone it a little bit on the squats. I like to think I'm stronger than I really am.

So far, my cardio is not impacting my lifting, but I've just started so hard to tell for sure. I have no problem laying off a day or so if I am too sore.

I just completed a program at my Rec Center and lost 11 lbs in 9 weeks. I gained about 3 or so back, but before that program I was losing about 3 to 4 lbs a month consistently from July, which is when I started tracking.

Sarauk2sf

Tagging

walkinthedogs

The more I think about it, I'm pretty sure my "cardio" is moderate enough that it's not really a factor, especially the dog walking and classes and treadmill. Swimming and cycle are the only one's I actually feel like I might explode and die sometimes and actually push myself. I am going to concentrate on figuring out how to strength train or lift heavy or whatever it is called and just work the rest in if I feel like I can and want to. I just got the book Starting Strength so hopefully that will help me as well. I do appreciate any advice y'all have for me, I'm always open to help, but I know you are both busy as hell as well. I have learned a lot from just stalking the posts already in your forum and just the general forum as well. Thanks!