Cardio/Weight Training help!

immortalities

Hi guys,

So I am a 22 year old female, 5ft10 and weigh 132lbs currently. I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week and while I'm there I spend about 35-40 minutes average running on the treadmill and about 30 minutes working my way around some of the strength machines (I usually aim for 10 sets of 10 reps at a weight somewhere between 50lbs to 70lbs - it varies what I can manage on different machines). I also walk for about 40 minutes a day, to and from work.

Onto my diet, on non-gym going days I usually eat about 1200-1300 calories and on gym days I would eat about 1350-1450.

I've lost about 60lbs since starting my journey about 2 years ago and I'm so close to my goal of 130lbs but, to be honest, I don't really mind the last couple of pounds and would like to just tone up now. I still have a bit of "jiggle" on my underarms, stomach, bum and thighs (okay, a lot of jiggle on my bum and thighs) and would really like it if this was less so.

Basically, what I'm wondering is whether my gym routine is going to help with this. Should I keep it the way it is or should I shorten my cardio and lengthen my weight training? Or vice versa? I also plan on starting to lift dumbbells, doing squats etc when at home.

I'm really sorry for the saga but any help would be greatly appreciated! :flowerforyou:

mymodernbabylon

You are already on the lower end of the BMI scale at 5'10" and 132, so I would not worry at all about losing weight but focus more on recomposition - scale back on the cardio and up the progressive weight lifting using a programme like Stronglifts 5x5 or Starting Strength.

skv1974

I used to be a cardio/running junkie. 45-60 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week with a lil weight training with 5lb weights. Well I started following some fitness models and Bikini Pros on Instagram because I love the way their bodies look. Most of them scale back the cardio to 20-30 minutes with lots of weight training with heavier weight. They do a lot of sprints and High Intensity intervals. Their cardio session are quick and intense. They also use cardio machines with resistance to get a double whammy of cardio and strength training like stationary bike, eliptical and stair stepper. I like to occasionally run outside and I love hill workouts with sprints on the treadmill. I have been doing this for about a month I am more toned. It has also helped with overeating. When I used to do so much cardio I was starving and would overeat. I have finally found the balance of cardio, weight training and nutrition. Hope that helps

ExRelaySprinter

As the others have said, maybe do a bit less Cardio and do more lifting and see if that works
I would also be eating more than 1450 cals on Gym days.
I eat more than that on a Non workout day...and i'm nowhere near as tall as you! Lol

immortalities

Thanks for all your tips! I'm definitely going to look into getting a better strength/weight programme in place and lower my time spent doing cardio per week! :happy: