Opinions on my workout plans, please?

AliciaNineteen72
AliciaNineteen72 Posts: 76
in Fitness and Exercise
When I started my exercise on the treadmill, I was not able to do the programmed workouts it came with. It was way too much! So I've worked my way up, and I can do the first one now. I've been walking a total of 50 minutes on the treadmill, and the programs are only 30 total minutes, but they are more intense, and I can continue pushing myself by going to the next workout. To find planned time to add in my resistance training on the home gym, I'm considering doing the 30 minute programs on the treadmill, and adding 15-30 minutes of strength training in after. For all of you fitness people, do you think this would be a good idea or bad, since I'm still very much in need of losing many pounds? Part of me feels taking away minutes of aerobic activity is not smart, but I have very little knowledge in this area. I am NOT a person who wants to spend more than an hour a day on fitness. That might sound awful, but I'm a homeschooling mom, have some chronic pain/fatigue/inflammation issues,my oldest is autistic and needs me throughout the day, and I do not love exercise anyway - never have! However, I do want to lose pounds and become stronger :) Opinions?

Replies

  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Since you said you want to become stronger, you'd likely be better off doing 5-10 minutes of light cardio as a quick warm-up, then doing your strength training, then doing the 30 minutes of extra cardio afterward.

    Or, do the warmup and strength training one day, 30+ minutes of cardio the next day - lather, rinse, repeat. Since you have a special needs child at home, this should allow you to get the work in, but still tend to your child as necessary.
  • madhatter2013
    madhatter2013 Posts: 1,547 Member
    Adding in strength training is never a bad idea unless your doctor tells you it is. Cutting back on cardio and adding resistance is ok. I did that a few weeks ago. Sinc Sept of last year up to a month ago I was only doing cardio but I was working out 5 days a week. Then I got a bum knee and stopped the cardio for a couple weeks and went to StrongLifts 5X5. It's helping my knee to the point that I can start doing cardio again and it actually jump started my weight loss a little. Now I do strength training 3 days and cardio 3 days each week. Alternating of course.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Strength training and muscle preservation is vastly more important than cardio during weight loss
  • javacafe
    javacafe Posts: 79 Member
    Aha! Do you see, my friend, how important strength training is? :smile:

    In fact, after a point in time, it will get very hard to lose additional fat through LISS (low-intensity, steady state) aerobic activity. And, if/when you lose weight through LISS, you will also be losing a lot of muscle.

    I am not saying what works/worked for me if applicable in every case, But, I am convinced that one can lose weight without any aerobic activity. Strength training during weight loss will preserve some of the muscles and, at the end of the weight loss, give a bit of a sculpted look to your body.

    Anyhow, whatever you do, I wish you the very best of luck.
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    You need both of course. The weight control benefits of weight lifting have already been stated--it's important to also exercise that most important muscle, your heart. At your age a 50 minute walk should be a walk in the park so to speak. Huffing and puffing is no way to go through life.
  • AliciaNineteen72
    AliciaNineteen72 Posts: 76
    You need both of course. The weight control benefits of weight lifting have already been stated--it's important to also exercise that most important muscle, your heart. At your age a 50 minute walk should be a walk in the park so to speak. Huffing and puffing is no way to go through life.

    I want to thank everyone for your advice! It had helped a lot. In response to the quote above: It should be a walk in the park, but never having been physically fit in my life, and adding chronic illness to it, believe me when I say, it's not a walk in the park!!! But the good news is, I'm much better off now than when I started, and I know I should be able to continue getting stronger and fitter as I go, with hard work, and God willing!
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member

    I want to thank everyone for your advice! It had helped a lot. In response to the quote above: It should be a walk in the park, but never having been physically fit in my life, and adding chronic illness to it, believe me when I say, it's not a walk in the park!!! But the good news is, I'm much better off now than when I started, and I know I should be able to continue getting stronger and fitter as I go, with hard work, and God willing!

    Wonderful! I think you are on track and I'll bet you surprise yourself on what you can do physically in just a few months of consistent exercise.

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