Cardio and Strength Training?

jodilo88
jodilo88 Posts: 63
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
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 :)

Replies

  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    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
    joslin2005 Posts: 138
    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
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    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
    jodilo88 Posts: 63
    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 :D
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