Possible to do SL 5x5 with a lot of cardio too?

slammy1079

Hey all! I joined this group at the advice of a MFP friend. I'm interested in trying SL 5x5 because it's incredibly straightforward, which is what I need to keep at it!

I know a lot of people drop or drastically reduce cardio when they start a lifting program...but what if you can't? I play roller derby, which involves usually about three 2-hour practices a week which are pretty cardio-intense. Since it's a team sport I play almost year-round I can't really cut down like I could with some other cardio routine. Also, I can probably only do SL 5x5 twice a week.

Do you think it's worth it or am I just going to overtax my body? My alternative would be more of a bootcamp/strength circuit/agility/HIIT workout a few times a week.

Thanks for any advice!

auddii

I would think that if you eat enough to feed the cardio (both for practice and for bouts) you could manage the program. Taking it back to two times a week may be beneficial for you so that you can still get enough rest days. (Keep in mind I'm only one day into the program - I'm sure there are a lot more people with experience who can provide more information.)

Leadfoot_Lewis

Try it and see how it goes. I would think as long as you're eating enough and getting enough sleep, you should be fine.

BTW - Cool that you play Roller Derby.

tameko2

As long as you eat and sleep enough you SHOULD be ok - some people never have an issue with that much exercise, and some people burn out. You really won't know which you are until you try it.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

You could also just do 3x5 instead of 5x5.

girlie100

Yeah make sure you eat and sleep enough that's the main thing. I run SL alongside playing for a football team and as long as I have left 24hrs between lifting and a game I'm all good.

Also you can run SL 2x a week if you need to drop one to fit around your team training or lift in the morning and train in the evening?

I highly recommend weight training for team sports, it massively improved my game once I started weightlifting

Good luck :drinker:

Martucha123

You could also just do 3x5 instead of 5x5.

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I would say cut down to 2 times per week, 3x5

soph501

Ah I was wondering the answer to this too, I do a lot of spinning and some running which I really enjoy and am not really willing to give up. Most of the body-building and strength training forums I've seen seem to hate any form of cardio so the answers they give aren't very helpful.

I would imagine if you allow yourself to have some sort of rest day and get enough food/sleep you should be ok. Would be interested in hearing how you get on

tameko2

Ah I was wondering the answer to this too, I do a lot of spinning and some running which I really enjoy and am not really willing to give up. Most of the body-building and strength training forums I've seen seem to hate any form of cardio so the answers they give aren't very helpful.

I would imagine if you allow yourself to have some sort of rest day and get enough food/sleep you should be ok. Would be interested in hearing how you get on

Yeah there's a lot of cardio negativity but it STARTED as negativity towards people doing cardio because they thought they HAD to rather than because they like it, No one in their right mind would tell you to give up stuff you love. But also dieters tend to eat too little and exercise too much - if you're eating enough and resting enough you shouldn't have issues doing other exercises AS LONG AS its exercise you already do consistently and your body is used to it. And its not some kind of ultra endurance training or something. IF you regularly run 12 miles a week you shouldn't have any issues continuing it. But if you want to start training for a marathon and putting in 25 miles a week when you usually only do 12, that's going to be an enormous extra strain.

Inother words just listen to your body - if you start to feel run down, or your performance is suffering, or you start experiencing a lot of persistent inflammation and physical strain, you're doing too much. So at that point you need to stop and reevaluate - but there's no reason to not at least try out the schedule you want.

slammy1079

Very good advice, everyone! Thanks! I am starting SL tonight (I had a crazy practice schedule this week, skating M-T-Th!), and I'm going to attempt to do it twice a week to allow my body some rest with everything else I do. Maybe I won't get as strong as fast, but hopefully it helps me be consistent.

Thanks again!