Adding StrongLift- thoughts changing routine

The only way to tighten things up is to continue to loose bodyfat, it doesn't matter what you do for exercise in that regard.

If it just ends up being loose skin, then that's another matter.

Go ahead with doing Stronglifts now, I don't see why you need to worry about it. Just remember that the days between lifting are meant as rest, so doing too much on your off days is going to affect your gains from lifting, and affect your recovery.

Any 3-a-week beginning strength program, once you get past the learning stage and start training near you maximum ability, will leave you physically wiped out 6 days a week. I won't say you can't do all that cardio at the same time you're lifting heavy, but most people can't do any other exercise outside the 3-a-week full body strength training. Some people recover faster, or tolerate the soreness better, so I'm not saying you can't do it, but it'll be hard.

That said, it'll take you several weeks - maybe even as long as a couple months - to get to that point. Go ahead and run and swim and add weights every workout. Be prepared to hit the wall, though, and then something will need to give.

If you've got goals for a triathalon, I would cut back your Stronglifts to twice a week when things get hard. Your strength progress will slow down, but it'll leave more energy for the triathalon training. Once you've run the race, you could change it up - cut down on the cardio and go back to 3-a-week strength training.

Like a previous poster said, listen to your body - the lethargy and malaise from over-training causes a lot of people to quit their exercise programs.

The soreness will not last more than a couple weeks if you stay consistent. What can be an issue is overall fatigue once the weights get heavy. It will take a while to adjust to the workload.

I'm in to week six of the stronglifts program and I was running 3.5 miles on my in between days. A few weeks ago I cut my running back to only once or twice a week total because the recovery was not enough time. Now I'm planning to cut back to only once a week because the weight is starting to get very heavy

Anyone have food suggestions for after lifting? After my first two free weight sessions I did 8 oz chocolate milk, banana, and tablespoon of natural PB smoothie.

It's not necessary to eat after a workout. Eat when you want to eat.

It is important to get enough protein.

Anyone have food suggestions for after lifting? After my first two free weight sessions I did 8 oz chocolate milk, banana, and tablespoon of natural PB smoothie.

It's not necessary to eat after a workout. Eat when you want to eat.

It is important to get enough protein.

Eh... post-workout is more important the pre-workout. Taking in around 1g/2lb bw of dirty carbs helps a ton with recovery.

Here's a simple article on a professional dietician's website about it: http://www.nutrition411.com/clinical-nutrition/sports-nutrition/item/168-exercise-the-post-workout-meal

They suggest taking it in over time, but I don't bother with that, I just always kept it simple and had a glass of low fat chocolate milk. I also workout in the evenings, so about an hour after that I would eat my dinner, usually with some more carbs (vegetables w/ some whole grain pasta). Also chicken, whatever, I like it lol Don't get too caught up in this stuff. Just try to learn some about it so you're making good choices and keeping things balanced.

About buying GNC pre/post-workout stuff. I've heard people with great bodies swear by it, and people with great bodies talk about how they don't waste their money...

A carb is a carb, protein is protein, etc... if you want to save your money and keep things simple, just eat whole foods. Leave the suppliments and marketing to pro bodybuilders. The only "suppliment" that I take is a multi-vitamin (like, from Costco) and whey protein powder (because it's delicious and convenient).