How long do you do cardio?

YesungNips
YesungNips Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
So I just went back to the gym. Again. I had been in an off and on relationship with it. I spend at least two hours at the gym five days a wel. And I do an hour of cardio with two machines. The treadmill and bike. I walk on the treadmill at 5.5-6.2 speed 25-30 minutes. And I bike at moderate effort for 30 minutes. I also walk for about 40 minutes five days a week aside from the treadmill at the gym. Then I do strenght training. I want to know if I should do cardio more or if I should stay with what I'm currently doing. It has been a month and I think I have lost 1 kilo. I also lost over 4 inches off my waist.

So, what machines do you use and how long do you do cardio?
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Replies

  • yannipoo
    yannipoo Posts: 1 Member
    Hey there! I am just getting back into a semblance of a gym routine. Since Feb 2013 I've consistently go 2-3 I aim for 4 times a week for no longer than 1.5 hours. I'll do elliptical for 40 or so and weight train.
  • Darrell916
    Darrell916 Posts: 110 Member
    40 minutes to an hour on the elliptical and then about 45 minutes of weights
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    Um, no. Don't do more cardio. If anything, do less cardio and more lifting.

    I think one hour of workout daily is the max you should aim for including lifting... unless there's some specific endurance event you're training for. I just think more than that isn't sustainable in the long term. My workouts include:

    1 hour tempo run
    1 hour full body strength training (5-8 rep range)
    2 30-minute upper body strength training sessions
    1 or 2 30-60 minute martial arts workouts for cross-training
    45-60 minute interval/hill run
    1 long run of up to 2 hours
    1 or 2 full rest days a week
  • violettatx
    violettatx Posts: 230 Member
    I do weight training 3 times a week for at least an hour each time. I do 30 minutes of interval cardio on 3 other days (alternate). It depends on your goals. If you want to maintain as much muscle as possible while on a calorie deficit, do more lifting and less cardio. I know some people love doing cardio, but personally I'm not too crazy about it. :laugh:
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    cardio 60 minutes a day no gym no machines
    walking and low impact aerobics plus crunches at home
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    You WALK at over 5mph???? That's a full jog for me!

    I do 15 minutes of cardio three days a week. i spend most of my gym time lifting heavy weights.
  • SheShe_13
    SheShe_13 Posts: 30 Member
    I do 60 min of cardio and about 30 min of strength training. My cardio consists of the elliptical and stationary bike, 30 min a piece. I change it up to surprise my body and sometimes only do 30 min of cardio and 30 min of strength training. I make an effort to lift weights every time I go to the gym!
  • wadedawg
    wadedawg Posts: 315
    I spend an hour on the treadmill 4 days a week. 3 days I run for 40 minutes, with a 10 minute warm up and 10 minute cool down. The other day I walk at 4 mph for 60 minutes.
  • Nicolee_2014
    Nicolee_2014 Posts: 1,572 Member
    For as long as it takes me to burn 500 calories (as per my HRM)
  • SrJoben
    SrJoben Posts: 484 Member
    About 20 minutes of bodyweight exercises done HIIT style a few times a week.

    Sometimes a half hour on the treadmill or walking outside.
  • NirvaniTeasley
    NirvaniTeasley Posts: 138 Member
    If you want to lose weight and you are doing a massive amount of cardio, your weight will eventually plateau and you may find yourself not losing weight...the body eventually adjusts to the cardio and will continue to store fat...that is why resistance training is so essential. It jolts the metabolism into overdrive. Another beneficial thing to weight loss is shaking up your cardio...circuit training is awesome for jolting the metabolism. Walk one day, do an aerobic class another. The body needs change, it loves to adapt.
  • PLUMSGRL
    PLUMSGRL Posts: 1,134 Member
    15-20 minutes HITT 2x a week...and that's enough~
  • lbmore33
    lbmore33 Posts: 1,013 Member
    4 days of running with a minimum of 60 mins unless they are long runs then it is quite longer...cross train on elliptical as well same time 60 mins though I have gone as long as 2hrs on it
  • baozytools12
    baozytools12 Posts: 26
    15 to 25 minutes - 2 to 5 miles as fast and hard as i can or 15 minutes of HIIT
  • TheEffort
    TheEffort Posts: 1,028 Member
    I do cardio (30 min - 45 min) 2 x week and strength training/lifting 4 days a week.

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  • YesungNips
    YesungNips Posts: 2
    You WALK at over 5mph???? That's a full jog for me!

    I do 15 minutes of cardio three days a week. i spend most of my gym time lifting heavy weights.

    Yeah. I consider it a walk since I think it's a little bit too slow if I jog at that speed and plus I can't stand running that much. Haha
  • ndegwa
    ndegwa Posts: 169
    i tend to do about:

    15 mins inclined jog (6mph)
    25 mins spin/cycle.
    15 row

    burns up 500 cals easy.

    gonig to get back into weights again soon as well to maintain what little i have left!
  • GrabacrPD
    GrabacrPD Posts: 94 Member
    I was doing 90 mins cardio but now im doing 60mins weights and 30 mins HIIT
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    I walk for at least an hour each day. Other than that, I do two or three vo2 max kettlebell workouts per week. Those are 20-30 minutes.

    ETA: I lift heavy 3x per week for 1-1.5 hours each session.
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Very little. Like 15 mins after a workout slowly working my way down to none. Almost time to maintain
  • DPernet
    DPernet Posts: 481 Member
    I do my Insanity workout which is 6 days a week @ 40-60 mins/day
    Weights 3 times a week @ 45 mins per session
    Swimming 5 times a week @ 1 hour per day
    Running or Cycling twice a week @ 30 mins per session


    :bigsmile:
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    Maybe one 20 min sesh once a week and another 35-40 minute sesh later in the week.

    That's probably 60 mins give-or-take in total a week.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    1 hour zumba class once a week, then morning 20 mins toning/aerobic DVD workout, walking am/pm to and from work, walk lunchtime ( if not raining) 20 mins, evening 20-45 mins either zumba or mixed aerobic/toning dvd.

    My legs are very firm, arms getting there, need to do more work on stomach.
  • louisemallas
    louisemallas Posts: 59 Member
    When using the elliptical trainer - what speed do you aim for. I do mine to music and hit around 17.3 k per hour (I do just under 40 mins worth as I aim for 10 k and it includes a bit of a warm up at a slower pace). I'm just wondering as I worry about what is recorded for calories by mfp and whether its accurate? I don't want to start eating the calories back and find that I should be working harder for the amount I'm credited with.
  • Tubbytucka
    Tubbytucka Posts: 83 Member
    The days I don't cycle to work I will walk at least 30min each way, and usually stretch to a 30-60min walk home. I like to cycle when it's dry and not too windy, and will always do at least 30min a day.
    Usually I like to cycle at least an hour one way - I have a few routes for 20, 30, 45, 60 and 90min rides, and it's also good fun doing different routes/exploring. Yesterday was nice so I did a 2 hr ride in the morning up through some hills, then a leisurely 1 hr ride home.
    If it's nice out, it doesn't feel like exercise, and the long steady distances are great for base fitness. Also, in the gym, all you have is the cycle or rowing machine and the pain; outside, you have the scenery to distract you from the hurt.

    I am lucky though as I have the free time to do this, and I'm training for a 75 mile ride I plan on doing later in the year.
  • fShaw86
    fShaw86 Posts: 878 Member
    Well, I do anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour of cardio, and like 20 minutes to 30 minutes of strength training. Elliptical/treadmill/spin bike for like 15-20 minutes or 100-200 calories burn on each. Strength training- I mix it up with free weights, cables, and lunge/squat/all that stuff.
  • drop_it_like_a_squat
    drop_it_like_a_squat Posts: 377 Member
    * Posted twice by accident haha
  • drop_it_like_a_squat
    drop_it_like_a_squat Posts: 377 Member
    I used to run A LOT before I seriously injured myself & discovered my passion for lifting.
    Now, all I use is the treadmill/elliptical for HIIT sessions of 20-30 minutes. I sometimes throw a 10 minute session after a upper body work out in, but that's about it. :)
  • louisemallas
    louisemallas Posts: 59 Member
    Well, I do anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour of cardio, and like 20 minutes to 30 minutes of strength training. Elliptical/treadmill/spin bike for like 15-20 minutes or 100-200 calories burn on each. Strength training- I mix it up with free weights, cables, and lunge/squat/all that stuff.
    Hi - when using the elliptical, what speed do you aim for?
  • Xiaolongbao
    Xiaolongbao Posts: 854 Member
    If you want to lose weight and you are doing a massive amount of cardio, your weight will eventually plateau and you may find yourself not losing weight...the body eventually adjusts to the cardio and will continue to store fat...

    I think resistance training is a fabulous thing but I wish its fans didn't feel the need to post rubbish like this.

    If you are consuming less calories than you're burning you will lose weight. Really. Yes, like with any skill your body can become more efficient but it doesn't stop magically requiring calories for cardio if you do a lot of it.

    To answer the original question I find the gym horribly boring so I don't go. My cardio consists of swimming (around half an hour each time 4 to 7 times a week) and running (usually 3 times a week, 2 hour long run and 1 slightly longer). Throw in a few sessions with Jillian and some resistance stuff (and I'm the first to admit I could do with more) and I'm busy enough to stay out of trouble.

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