Starting Strength + Cardio

IvyReisner
IvyReisner Posts: 6 Member
edited November 28 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm female, chasing (or being chased by) 50.

My first love is running, but I need strength. I'm taking care of a lady now, who spent her life forcefully discouraging any exercise that took effort and now she can't pick up a soda bottle. I don't want to go there.

There is a grandmother in my gym who benches at least 200 and looks like she could deadlift a Buick. I don't want to go there either. I mean, I wouldn't mind ending up there, but I'm not aiming that high.

My perfect ideal would be to be able to, within five years, drop 20 pounds, do chin ups, deadlift 150, and bench 100. I think that's reasonable.

So, my hopefully not too crazy plan is thus.

Monday -- Cardio. Running most likely, though bike and elliptical are options.
Tuesday -- Rest day.
Wednesday -- Starting Strength with some light stretching afterwards.
Thursday -- Cardio.
Friday -- Starting Strength and light stretching afterwards.
Saturday -- Anything goes. It can be that Aaptiv workout with the elliptical and the hand weights. It can be a go at the rowing machine. It's a play day.
Sunday -- Starting Strength at an actual gym, followed a few hours later by whatever my gym buddy comes up with at Planet Fitness, probably that circuit thing. Not hating on PF, but they say they aren't an actual gym, and they don't let you deadlift. Deadlift is part of Starting Strength. They're highly likely to be my go-to fitness center for Saturday play day.

I'm starting slow (kettleball squats because I can't yet squat the bar with good form) and hope to make gradual, but steady progress. Currently, I can run 30 minutes six days a week, so I'm hoping trading those days will work.

Does this sound crazy, or viable?

Thank you.

-Ivy

Replies

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  • IvyReisner
    IvyReisner Posts: 6 Member
    If you mean the goal is too much. :(

    If you mean the plan is too much, is this better?

    Monday Cardio
    Tuesday Rest
    Wednesday Starting Strength
    Thursday Cardio
    Friday Starting Strength
    Saturday Rest
    Sunday Starting Strength OR Planet Fitness with a friend

    So that's two days cardio, two days strength, one toss-up day, and two days rest.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    You may find that the cardio will cut into your recovery on Starting Strength's novice LP. In my experience, being able to run for 30-40 minutes wasn't a big help when it came to squatting. Just keep in mind that your LP may end sooner due to the cardio. It's not the end of the world but don't be surprised if it happens.
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