Cardio and Strength Training?

jodilo88

I am trying to lose about 75-80 pounds or so. How often and how long should I be doing strength training and cardio during the week? I'm somewhat of a beginner to working out and have really only been going at it for a couple of weeks, but I really want to get a "schedule" of sorts established so I can work it out with the other things I have to do during the day.

Do you need to do more cardio than strength training or vice-versa? Do you need to do both on the same day or alternate? Just needing some advice on a "rest day" (more like a sick day - curse you bronchitis...)

Thanks for any and all input

Awkward30

I'd advice getting the book New Rules of Lifting for Women and following that program 2-3 days per week. Then do cardio on other days as you wish. As that book says, cardio isn't strictly speaking necessary to lose weight. I am less quick to dismiss it because it lets me eat more (which I love altogether too much) and I want to be all around fit, which I think really involves cardiovascular fitness as well as strength.

joslin2005

If you do strength training, you need 2 days between workout to let your muscles recoup. And should strength training 2-4 times a week. So your workout would look like this; M-arms/abs, Tues-Legs, Wed-Rest, Thurs-Arms/abs, Fri-Legs, Sat-Rest, Sunday-Rest. Or you could knockout arms/abs/legs on M and Thurs or however you see fit. Cardio for weight loss should be done 4+ days of the week for 30 mins. You should take at least 1 day completely off from exercise. Personally, I prefer circuit training. I do circuit training 4x a week and 1 day of cardio only. I am following a Jillian Michaels program at the moment.

BrianSharpe

When you're first starting out alternating days is a good idea, it gives your body time to recover and adapt. You don't want to overdo things and either injure yourself or burnout.

jodilo88

If you do strength training, you need 2 days between workout to let your muscles recoup. And should strength training 2-4 times a week. So your workout would look like this; M-arms/abs, Tues-Legs, Wed-Rest, Thurs-Arms/abs, Fri-Legs, Sat-Rest, Sunday-Rest. Or you could knockout arms/abs/legs on M and Thurs or however you see fit. Cardio for weight loss should be done 4+ days of the week for 30 mins. You should take at least 1 day completely off from exercise. Personally, I prefer circuit training. I do circuit training 4x a week and 1 day of cardio only. I am following a Jillian Michaels program at the moment.

I LOVE IT!!! Thank you SO much!! This really helps and I am so writing it down