Is This Enough Exercise to start with?

sharon75uk
sharon75uk Posts: 51 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have started back at the gym and I am planning on going 5 times a week.

Doing 40 minutes cardio and burning approx. 300 calories on 3 different machines.

How do I build onto this? I only want to be in the gym for just over an hour each time.

Thanks
Sharon

Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I'd cut the cardio to 3 sessions and do a full body strength routine consisting of compound lifts for the other two. You could also switch from longer, steady state cardio to HIIT.
  • TyTy76
    TyTy76 Posts: 1,761 Member
    Can I ask why you're using 3 different machines?
  • choijanro
    choijanro Posts: 754 Member
    its better to do lifting first and after that do ur cardio ,, u can do abs exercise also,,

    also watch ur calories or diet
  • sharon75uk
    sharon75uk Posts: 51 Member
    Can I ask why you're using 3 different machines?

    Exercise Bike, rowing machine and cross trainer to vary my work out.
  • sharon75uk
    sharon75uk Posts: 51 Member
    its better to do lifting first and after that do ur cardio ,, u can do abs exercise also,,

    also watch ur calories or diet

    Been using MFP since June and have lost 15lbs with watching calories :)
  • bobbystrongarm
    bobbystrongarm Posts: 72
    What are your goals? Are you doing this for weight loss or are you trying to build endurance, fitness, or strength?

    If your goal is merely weightloss you don't need to add anything, just keep your diet at a deficit. Doing more cardio just gives you a larger amount of calories to eat once you have your diet in check.

    If you are wanting to achieve better cardio vascular health, start setting goals for yourself. Push yourself on the exercises you are doing. Keep track of your pace, strides, resistance, incline, and distance. Work on improving these numbers week to week. Meeting goals week to week is great motivation. An extra quarter mile, 5 extra strides per minute, or 1 click higher resistance/incline will keep you challenged and constantly improving yourself.

    If you want strength, start strength training. You wont accomplish this performing cardio. Weights are your friend. There are numerous programs that you can follow.
  • jeremyw1977
    jeremyw1977 Posts: 505 Member
    Have a cardio sandwich.

    Do some cardio (elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill, etc) for 15 minutes, then do some strength training for 30 minutes, and then cap it off with another 15 minutes of cardio.

    If you wish to keep your heart racing, turn your strength training into a tabata routine.
    If you don't know what tabata is, here's the routine:

    Example Tabata

    Move 1: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Repeat Move 1: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Repeat Move 1: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Repeat Move 1: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Move 2: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Repeat Move 2: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Repeat Move 2: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 10 Seconds
    Repeat Move 2: 20 Seconds, as many reps as possible.
    Rest: 1 Minute

    Move 1, or Move 2 represent any exercise you want to do..........push ups, sit ups, bicep curls, chest press, shoulder press, tricep dips, burpees, lunges, squats (any move)

    Once you are done with 1 tabata (which lasts only about 4-5 minutes), choose 2 more moves and repeat the sequence again.
    If you do 30 minutes of strength training, you sould be able to fit at least 5 tabatas into that time frame.

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