Could you analyze my workout routine please and share your t

EliseB88

Maybe there's already a thread on this so sorry if i'm creating an identical thread but i just wanted to get some opinions about my workout routine to see if I'm doing things right.

I'm trying to lose 15lbs. I'm 23, 5'4, 145lbs. I try to eat like 1700 calories a day and burn at least 500 of that off at the gym. I go to the gym about 5 times a week and what i do is usually I'll get on some of the weight machines first and then I'll do about 3 miles of cardio on the treadmill. I do all this in about an hour. I do cardio every time i go to the gym, but i do weights first because I've read that its better to do weights before cardio because if you do cardio first, your muscles will be too fatigued to lift weights so you may not be able to lift as much or do as many reps. But I've also read different things that say that its better to do cardio first and then weights, so i don't know what the right way is but weights then cardio made the most logical sense to me so i stick to that.

Sooooo if i want to lose 15 lbs, should be doing more cardio then weights? or equal amounts? or more weights than cardio? I know the more muscle you have the more calories your body burns per hour, but i figured that doing more weights and less cardio would result in more bulk, no? But so many people say that you shouldn't do cardio everyday because it breaks down muscle...so im confused..i like doing cardio every time i go to the gym because if i just do resistance training and no cardio i don't feel like i've burned enough calories :-/.

So any thoughts? What works best for you? Am i doing things right?

shelbygeorge29

Read this:

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_interviews/the_tvixen_roundtable

MomBod81

bump

ksheppard0509

Doing weights first is better for you to keep your muscles from getting too fatigued before cardio. If you are wanting to lose weight and get more lean then you don't want to use heavy weights. Cardio and resistance training are definitely your better options. I'm working on getting lean first and then getting toned. Since I'm starting back out all I am doing is cardio, no weight training. After a few weeks I will start doing some weights, very light weights and more reps with it. I will use a medicine ball more than I will use actual weight machines. I have an app on my itouch that is great! It is called Nike Training Club and I love it! It gives me specific workouts to do for my goals--getting lean and then toned. Hope this helps!

ksheppard0509

Oh, I also work out three actual days/week with a fourth day of active rest. The other three are completely rest days. Like I said, I'm starting out again so I will progress to four days actual and the fifth active rest.

mmtiernan

I absolutely agree with weights before cardio. As to the question about doing more cardio and dropping the weights, perhaps this article will help:

http://figureathlete.t-nation.com/free_online_article/training/the_final_nail_in_the_cardio_coffin

(be sure to read through all 3 pages - and check out her picture results!)

sleepytexan

I am the same height as you and just about the same goals. I went from 142 to 129.

I know you didn't ask about calories, but because we are just the same size I want to tell you what worked for me. I struggled for over a year, unable to lose weight until I upped calories to between net 1350 -1530. It sounds crazy, but it is true. Once I read the link below and put it into practice I lost 13 lbs. in about 2 months! I would like to lose 2 more, but the scale won't budge now it seems. My inches are way down, though so I am pleased!

Check this out to avoid frustration, because being so close to goal and burning 500 cals a day in exercise, your lean muscle mass needs just a bit more fuel to help you lose weight:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/196502-for-the-people-who-work-out-like-crazy-and-are-not-losing?hl=for+people+who+work+out+like+crazy


blessings.

IronSmasher

I absolutely agree with weights before cardio. As to the question about doing more cardio and dropping the weights, perhaps this article will help:

http://figureathlete.t-nation.com/free_online_article/training/the_final_nail_in_the_cardio_coffin

(be sure to read through all 3 pages - and check out her picture results!)

Excellent, love mythbusting