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balancing weight training and cardio?

deanaimee
deanaimee Posts: 36 Member
edited November 12 in Social Groups
Hi all!!! I've been lurking here for a week or so and just love the information you all have been sharing!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

Just a little background: I am 5'9" and 206 lbs. MFP started me at 1200 cals (CRAZY), so I did that at first and lost 8 lbs and then stopped losing. I upped my cals to 1400 and put on 3 lbs, which has come back off. I am now using a net of 1700 (that's my BMR), and eating back my exercise calories :) Yay food!!!

Currently, I am exercising 4-5 days per week, but it has been only cardio including my elliptical and power walking.

My question is how should I incorporate weight training into what I'm already doing? I have free weights and a bench at home, but wonder if I should do less cardio per day and add weights on that day or should I alternate weight lifting days with cardio days?

Eating my BMR and eating exercise calories seems like the easiest to track for me.

Thanks for reading :)

Replies

  • 31prvrbs
    31prvrbs Posts: 687 Member
    Hi! Welcome to the wonderful world of food! :bigsmile:

    I'd start off alternating the two. Maybe 2-3 full body weight training days and 2-3 cardio days.

    Kiki
  • deanaimee
    deanaimee Posts: 36 Member
    Thanks, Kiki! I'll do that :) I love your muscles!! You rock!

    Aimee
  • kd80538
    kd80538 Posts: 97 Member
    OK...so this is going to sound like a really stupid question...but here goes :glasses:

    My current workout routine is Kung Fu 4 days a week. I definitely see the value in the weight/strength training, and need to incorporate it, somehow...

    1) Where to even start?!? I don't want to spend any additional money on a gym, but am open to looking to purchase free weights to use at home...quite honestly, it's the only way I'd find the time to do additional days of working out.

    2) How to balance it with my Kung Fu schedule, which is T-F every week. Is it ok to do both on some days?

    3) In the interim until I can find weights, etc...am I safe to use the BRM/TDEE calculations that I have and "eat more"? I see so many of the posts focused on the lifting aspect, and really don't want to assume in error that it's applicable to all types of exercise.

    Thanks!
    Kendra
  • helened
    helened Posts: 42
    Hi Kendra,

    I am not sure how long your Kung Fu session are but you could add weight training on Monday and Saturday. Ideally it would be nice to have them more spread out but you might not have flexibility in your schedule?

    There are several ways to go about this. One of the rules is to give your muscles 48 hours to recover before you exercise them again. So Monday and Saturday would fit the bill with Sunday being a day off. I wouldn't do both weight training and Kung fu on the same day yet.

    For your weight training you can grab a book. New Rules of lifting for women is a good one from what I understand, the routines are reasonable as far as how long they take and they hit full body. You can look for DVDs for at home workouts. I know that a lot of us like Cathe Friedrich but there are also a lot of recommendations on collage video.

    If you go the home route, you will need to invest in a bit of equipment. I know that some people have had success as well with Jillian Michael 30 day shred type of workouts which require a lot less equipment but uses a lighter weights. Don't feel like you have to do these workouts every other day. If you are doing your Kung fu, you are plenty active on those days it sounds like.

    I hope this helps. :smile:
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