Balancing cardio (elliptical) + strength (legs)

Sonoris
Sonoris Posts: 1 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
A friend told me not to do strength leg stuff the same day as cardio cuz it'll suck the next morning (a mutual friend of ours did it once and couldn't walk the next day). Googling seems to generally agree with this.

Cept I'm trying to do a bunch of cardio (mostly elliptical) for calorie burning... So I do cardio tues/thurs/sat, along with some arm stuff and maybe core.

I don't really wanna go to the gym every day, but when do I fit legs in here? I care about them more than my arms honestly...
Should I cut out a day of cardio and replace with legs? For the time being the elliptical might help a little with the resistance up, considering I'm just starting off from being a total couch potato... but. I have no idea what I'm doing.

Replies

  • dandandee
    dandandee Posts: 301 Member
    I'm no expert here, but I do my elliptical and strength (legs) on the same day all the time. Haven't had any problems yet and I go pretty intense on the elliptical for 25 mins and then bike for 25 same day as my strength training.
  • FinallyFindingLisa
    FinallyFindingLisa Posts: 222 Member
    I do almost the same thing... elliptical for 30 mins, strength including 5 leg/lower body machines and then another 30 mins on a bike. I've never had a problem
  • ChocoCheeseaholic
    ChocoCheeseaholic Posts: 55 Member
    I do strength and cardio the same day without issue. I've definitely experienced the ouch ouch, I can't walk problem before but that's just because I've started a new exercise or lifted heavier and my body wasn't used to it. Sure it looks funny when you try to stand up after sitting for a while, but it goes away after a couple days.
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    I've actually read that doing cardio after working your legs will actually help with muscle soreness. It's kinda like doing stretching after a workout. Just do your weight training prior to your cardio, and you should be okay.
  • Erica_theRedhead
    Erica_theRedhead Posts: 724 Member
    I do cardio and strength in the same day most of the time. You can maximize calorie burn, work your full body, and increase your aerobic and anaerobic capacities. The only time I don't do strength is when I'm really sore from the day before (which is a feeling that I love!) and just do cardio to get the blood pumping. I don't know what you're googling that tells you not to do this...
  • NewMe20131806
    NewMe20131806 Posts: 1
    I do the arc different then elliptical, but almost the same, I do 45 minutes then do strength mostly leg strengths for 20 minutes. I have had no problem, if your feeling your joints sore that means you are lifting more then you should be, so drop back a couple pounds on the weights to where you are not feeling sore, the next day. If you are wanting to lose fat, do Cardio first, because you want all your energy focused on losing that fat with Cardio, then afterwards do strength training with the left over energy for that session of your workout. If it's muscle that is your goal then you should start strength training before your cardio.
  • joeint
    joeint Posts: 31
    I also do legs and cardio on the same day just make sure you do your strength training first. Don't waste your energy on cardio then try and get a good lift in. Who cares if your out of gas for cardio that's the idea.
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    Hmmm, today (and usually when I do weights) I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, then 30 minutes on weights (did core [crunch machine, hip abductor, back extender, and bench press], as well as a few legs [inner thighs, outter thighs, and squat machine]), and then another 30 minutes on the ellptical. But I guess my body has adjusted... I did get sore at first, but not any more... If I don't feel it in my legs a little at first, I don't feel like I did anything. :wink:

    I have read that you should let a set of muscles rest a day or two before working them again. They recommend working a different set on opposite days. But hey, I'm no professional... thats just stuff I read, and I don't believe everything I read either. if I am familiar with the person doing the writing I usually believe it (if I am confident they know what they ate talking about). :happy:

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