cardio and strength training

friggie
friggie Posts: 137 Member
edited February 4 in Fitness and Exercise
I just started a program this week, it's the Biggest Loser Cardio Max and Power Sculpt Program. I am doing alternating days of each workout Monday- Friday, each level I am doing for 4 weeks, there are 3 Levels. On weekends I will go walking or perhaps do a Turbo Jam workout.
My question is this, should I be doing extra cardio on the strength training ( sculpting) days? I must be doing something right because I have lost 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks. The Cardio Max is very intense and works my whole body, I am a sweaty mess when finished. The Power Sculpt works all my muscles and feels great when finished.
Some insight as to if I am doing enough would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance.
Angie

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.
  • friggie
    friggie Posts: 137 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.

    I am staying in my calorie range and make sure I don't eat back all my workout calories burned. I just don't want to sabatoge myself. I make sure I get good proteins daily and keep my carbs and sugars down.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.

    I am staying in my calorie range and make sure I don't eat back all my workout calories burned. I just don't want to sabatoge myself. I make sure I get good proteins daily and keep my carbs and sugars down.

    Why don't you eat back your exercise cals?
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    You should keep at least one rest day .... sometimes on a rest day I'll do hatha yoga (this is the relaxing, stretching type ...not power yoga). It's great for increasing flexibility.

    But, what Jackson said .....I wouldn't mess with success.
  • friggie
    friggie Posts: 137 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.

    I am staying in my calorie range and make sure I don't eat back all my workout calories burned. I just don't want to sabatoge myself. I make sure I get good proteins daily and keep my carbs and sugars down.

    Why don't you eat back your exercise cals?

    I was told to lose weight that you should have a deficit and not to eat back the calories burned from working out. Is this wrong?
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    If you're using TDEE - X%, then no, don't eat your calories back. However, if you're using MFP's method and you accurately entered your daily activity level (NOT including exercise), then MFP automatically creates a deficit for you, therefor you can eat back (and should, to fuel properly) your exercise calories. I don't always eat all mine back, just because I don't have a HRM and know that MFP isn't the most accurate all the time, but I try to eat some of them.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.

    I am staying in my calorie range and make sure I don't eat back all my workout calories burned. I just don't want to sabatoge myself. I make sure I get good proteins daily and keep my carbs and sugars down.

    Why don't you eat back your exercise cals?

    I was told to lose weight that you should have a deficit and not to eat back the calories burned from working out. Is this wrong?

    You should have a deficit, that part is a definite. Not eating back exercise cals can either create a deficit or make an existing deficit bigger. Maintaining too large of a deficit for too long can lead to problems.

    Here are 2 good reads on exercise cals:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/383956-exercise-calories-explained
    and
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

    But, if you're seeing progress and able to adhere to things, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I only asked because, IMO, it's important to understand why you are doing things, rather than simply being told to do something a certain way.


    .
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,864 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.

    I am staying in my calorie range and make sure I don't eat back all my workout calories burned. I just don't want to sabatoge myself. I make sure I get good proteins daily and keep my carbs and sugars down.

    Why don't you eat back your exercise cals?

    I was told to lose weight that you should have a deficit and not to eat back the calories burned from working out. Is this wrong?

    How did you get your calorie goal? Is your calorie goal what MFP gave you? If it is then there is already a substantial deficit from maintenance built in...this goal is net of exercise. The way MFP works is you set your activity level assuming no exercise...just your day to day...then you say I want to lose X Lbs per week...then MFP calculates a calorie goal based on those inputs.

    You don't have to make your deficit bigger with exercise and it can often be counterproductive to your ultimate goals. Deficits which are too large cannot be sustained with just fat loss...you also burn a lot of muscle. When you burn a lot of muscle, your metabolism is slowed down even further (the more LBM you have, the faster your metabolism...i.e. the more calories your body burns at rest).

    See also this...

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1105913-mfp-and-eating-back-exercise-calories

    All that said, ultimately you have to weigh these estimates (because that's what they are) with real world results.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Assuming your diet is reasonable, no you shouldn't. Especially if what you're currently doing is working.

    I am staying in my calorie range and make sure I don't eat back all my workout calories burned. I just don't want to sabatoge myself. I make sure I get good proteins daily and keep my carbs and sugars down.

    Why don't you eat back your exercise cals?

    I was told to lose weight that you should have a deficit and not to eat back the calories burned from working out. Is this wrong?

    It's true you need a deficit to lose weight ..............however, MFP gave you a calorie deficit based upon ZERO exercise. So, when you log exercise here ..... it gives you additional calories to eat.

    The reason for additional calories, when you lose too fast you are more likely to lose muscle+fat. Losing at a moderate pace = just fat. You are strength training and that's good to help keep muscle.... provided you eat enough (protein is very important).

    **The problem with eating exercise calories is that calorie burns are tough to nail down. Many people start with a % of MFPs number ... say 60%. If you are losing at a moderate pace ...that's good. If you are tired (often) ....then you need to eat more.
  • friggie
    friggie Posts: 137 Member
    Wow, thank you all for the responses and input, that's why I love this site.
    You have opened my eyes up to so much from your answers. Yes I am going on what mfp has set for my limits, so I guess I do need to make sure I don't eat too little from what my goals say.
    You guys are all awesome.
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