Question about Strength Training and the 30DS Video

deewildwoman
deewildwoman Posts: 120 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I am fairly new to strength training, but the few books I have read say that you should strength train every other day and allow your muscles to rest on the off days. If you do strength train every day, they advise working different muscle groups each day so your muscles have a chance to rest.

My question then, is it good to do the 30 Day Shred every day, especially since I am a beginner and do the same level every day? Would it be better to only do the video every other day and just do a cardio workout on the other days? What works best?

Thanks for your help!

Replies

  • pinkita
    pinkita Posts: 779 Member
    I posted this same question a while back and got very different responses--some said they do it everyday, others said they do it every single day, and some suggested to do one day with weights, and the next day without. I still haven't done the 30DS yet but my friend was doing it everyday and got a bad muscle strain--and her doctor told her to rest for 6-8 weeks!

    For now I'm doing Bob Harper Kettlebell workouts every other day, and long walks on the non-Kettlebell days :)
  • Morglem
    Morglem Posts: 377 Member
    bump...
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    It's even better if you perform combination moves like squat, deadlift, rows, etc so that you work all your muscles and then have a rest day. It's also less time consuming.

    As for 30 day shred, if you are feeling sore and tired, don't be afraid to take a rest day. As your muscles become accustomed to it, you'll get better and it will become easier.
  • sphinctress
    sphinctress Posts: 202 Member
    I don't know either, but I have done 30DS off and on for about a year now, and I find that I end up breaking it up as well. Mostly b/c of old injuries in my shoulders. So, I'm trying to rehab my rotator cuffs a little before I start it again, even then I plan on doing every other day with cardio on the off days. My time is limited (in med school), and I like to take long bike rides or run trails, so I give myself days for that too. I just like enjoying my exercise. : ) So, that's my plan... don't know if I'll lose the weight they say you can in a 30 day time frame, but if I do stuff that makes me happy, then at least I'll keep exercising.

    Good luck!
    : )
  • allready_gone
    allready_gone Posts: 36
    I do it every other day and run on the days I don't.. Sometimes I weight lift instead of shred and I often follow the 30DS with Ab Ripper X from the P90X series but never two days in a row.
  • mikeyken
    mikeyken Posts: 118 Member
    I just finished 30 DS in about 50 days. Took 2-3 rest days a week and did cardio on those days. I lost 11 lbs and quite a few inches so it worked for me. I think you should just do it however works for you. If you need a rest take a rest and don't stress about it. :)
  • myiceisonfire
    myiceisonfire Posts: 782 Member
    Jillian actually had a quote that said she made the 30 Day Shred so he could be done every day...
  • HeatherYevette
    HeatherYevette Posts: 56 Member
    Hah, I hadn't even been counting the hand weights in the 30DS as 'strength training'. I just thought of it as adding intensity to my cardio. I go to the gym 3 days a week and really lift heavy then. I do the 30DS on the other days and have one day off.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    I do it every second or third day mostly because I aggravated an old knee injury with it. After the first time my muscles were pretty sore but that subsided. I was told by my trainer that weights should not be done every day since your muscles need time to rest and repair, but cardio and abs can be done every day. My suggestion is to do whatever you feel most comfortable.
  • deewildwoman
    deewildwoman Posts: 120 Member
    Thanks for all the responses. I think I will start doing it every other day, or just add it in rotation with some of my other workouts. I did the video 6 straight days and I think it has irritated some joints and the jumping jacks are making my shins hurt (worried I am getting shin splints). I think I will change everything up and see if I feel like I am getting a better workout. Thanks!
  • Nightfly01
    Nightfly01 Posts: 85 Member
    3 days a week is great. You should train muscles each time if you are doing it right. Forget about biceps day and triceps day. There are plenty of exercises that give you more bang for your buck like pushups, squats, stiff legged dead lifts, db overhead presses. Loook up variations of exercises on the major body parts (thighs, hips, back, chest, shoulders). If you have variety in these you can do them and the little stuff like abs and triceps will be an afterthought.
  • blueberrypancakes
    blueberrypancakes Posts: 45
    Im on day 4 of level 1 and today is the day im going to do it with weights and then do it again with no weights and then weights again.also push through your soreness, you'll get used to it and it wont hurt anymore.also i usually walk+jog 30-45 minutes with 30ds
    goodluck!
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