Lifting question

CariBgood

At the end of last year I decided I wanted to spend some time lifting weights (mostly because of this board). At first my trainer started me out 1-2 days per week and I would do some cardio a couple of other days per week. I am now lifting 3 days per week with my trainer, but our sessions are only about 30-40 minutes long. I hop on the elliptical for about 15-30 minutes before each session. My question is... Am I doing enough? I haven't had a humongous loss yet, but I feel fantastic and my body is definitely changing. I'm not looking for a quick fix, I'm just wondering if I should add a day?

Gapwedge01

30-40 minutes is long enough if you aren't standing around waiting on a machine after every set. Doing cardio before lifting is not encouraged unless it is just to warm up which it appears that is what you are doing. How heavy are you lifting? After 40 minutes my arms and shoulders are wet noodles, but I don't wait on equipment. More lifting less cardio.

RepsnSets

Thats plenty of time but three times a week is better than just two.

I lift on seperate days I never do cardio on the same day as I lift.

30-45 minutes is excellent time keeping

CariBgood

I don't normally wait on machines. My arms are pretty much shot when I am done. I'm new to weight lingo... so I am benching about 30 lbs plus the bar. I am dead lifting 50lbs plus the bar. I'm curling 12 lb dumb bells but I am pretty sure I'm going to bump it to the 15lb bells tonight. I row 70lbs and there are a few other weights that I do that I don't know the name. I usually do 2 sets of 8-12 depending on the exercise. I usually struggle on the last set with the last 3 reps or so... I have been seriously consistent the last 3 weeks and I am noticing a difference in my arms and shoulders. I'm just wondering if sticking to 3 days a week for now is best or if I should try to bump it to 4. Has it been anyone's experience that they noticed an even bigger difference between 3 and 4 days?

heybales

I don't normally wait on machines. My arms are pretty much shot when I am done. I'm new to weight lingo... so I am benching about 30 lbs plus the bar. I am dead lifting 50lbs plus the bar. I'm curling 12 lb dumb bells but I am pretty sure I'm going to bump it to the 15lb bells tonight. I row 70lbs and there are a few other weights that I do that I don't know the name. I usually do 2 sets of 8-12 depending on the exercise. I usually struggle on the last set with the last 3 reps or so... I have been seriously consistent the last 3 weeks and I am noticing a difference in my arms and shoulders. I'm just wondering if sticking to 3 days a week for now is best or if I should try to bump it to 4. Has it been anyone's experience that they noticed an even bigger difference between 3 and 4 days?

It's really hard to decide if you are "shot" because you did the lifting right, or muscles just plain tired.

Only way to truly know is compare, don't do the elliptical a couple of times first and just walk around the track for 5 minutes, and then get straight to the lifting.

Because the feeling at the end usually will feel the same, you pushed for all you were worth while keeping good form, and failed or almost failed.

But is that because the muscle is tired and hasn't recovered the ATP stores needed for that anaerobic effort, or because the muscles really gave it their all.

So it won't change fact you'll see improvement, but could you see more for the time and effort spent?

I'd say 10 min easy elliptical first at most, rest afterwards.

Leave the 4 day split routine to more advanced lifting down the road. Besides the fact you only use each muscle 2 x weekly. Compared to full body routine 3 x weekly.

Your biceps and triceps used for every single pull/push motion on upper body means they really get a workout, and being smaller muscles, they really need recovery. Do other compound lifts before you do curls or kickbacks, or at least put them last.

They can get into exact situation I was talking about above. Just plain tired, so they can't push or pull as heavy, meaning the bigger main muscle really being worked out, isn't really getting an overload.

For example, just like if your grip is what gave out on deadlifts at certain weight/reps, but all your other muscles are hardly getting a workout - which can happen.