Gym Workouts - am I doing this right?

chatnel
chatnel Posts: 688 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So I do 5-10 warm up on treadmill and then do machines 2 different arm machines, 1 leg machine and then sit ups and then back on treadmill for 25 minutes. Is this enough of a workout or do I need to increase duration of cardio. I don't like running on the treadmill but have an incline and get my heartrate upto 150-160.

thanks

Replies

  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    Depends partly on what you are trying to accomplish. Personally I usually do 65 min on the treadmill, then either upper body or lower body ... sometimes I take a day off to let my muscles rest. Personally as far as strength training, I do about 10 upper body and 10 lower body exercises... (Not the same day)... You do need a day of rest between sets. My ab exercises are part of my lower body routine. Then if time permits, I'll do additional cardio (bikes, elliptical, etc.)... This is rare.

    Each exercise usually consists of 3 sets of 10. I can do this routine in about 2 hours at the gym. Again, some rest is needed so don't work it all every day.
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    It is important to have cardio now and then to maintain a healthy heart. You are doing very well in that regard.

    You do not need to focus on cardio to lose weight (assuming that is why you are in the gym, to lose weight?). The machines and free weights can offer you great health benefits different than cardio, but still very important.

    Check out this topic for information on lifting weights (aka: some can say using the machines in the gym is lifting weights)
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/390208-should-i-lift-weights-as-a-woman

    also, I'd recommend the entire 'unofficial MFP faq' to read. It might help answer your questions deeper than just the one link.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/457-unofficial-mfp-faq
  • Taylerr88
    Taylerr88 Posts: 320 Member
    Change it.

    First if you are going to lift weights .. you have to workout your whole body.. not just arms and abs. you are neglecting so many muscles.. back, triceps, back, shoulders.. etc.. personally i don't know what your goal is so i can't suggest you a program... but if you want to gain muscle you need to get stronger.. so any program that has you on a liner progression path is golden..

    second.. cardio is used to get your self a healthy heart and / or into a calorie deficiency ... aim for 500 under maintenance for 1lb/week

    also make sure you track your diet.. its the most important part.

    gl.. stay strong
  • AfonsoSilva
    AfonsoSilva Posts: 24
    I guess it depends on what your goals are. Warmups are very important, specially before weight training. And cardio after weight training is a great way to burn fat off.

    But do not overdo it. Once you start increasing the weight training, you can decrease some the cardio workout. And please try and alternate between days heavy on cardio and light on weight and days heavy of weight and light on cardio.
  • chatnel
    chatnel Posts: 688 Member
    thanks, I am probably doing about 15 minutes of weights/machines etc in between cardio. Do you think I should increase this?
  • chatnel
    chatnel Posts: 688 Member
    my aim is to lose 5-8 kilos and tone up
  • thefuzz1290
    thefuzz1290 Posts: 777 Member
    Every time someone says "I want to tone" a kitten dies.

    If your goal is to have a lower body fat percentage, you should focus on building muscle with light cardio. Why? First, the more muscle mass you have, the more resting calories you burn. Second, when you do lose fat, you won't be "skinny fat" and you'll actually have some muscle definition to show off.
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    I could never do cardio, then stop and do weights, then stop and do cardio. The best results I have had has been keeping them seperate. I do a fullbody every other day and walk atleast the days between but, usually every day.

    I usually lift in the morning and walk at night on weight days. Then, walk first thing in the morning on off days.

    It has something to do with anaerobic exercises and aerobic....the oxygen....stars aligning with jupiter...I don't know but, it doesn't work for me.


    I think you should lift longer if you can. If not build up to it. I do a fullbody in under an hour. You can do a 30 minute upper one day and a 30 minute lower the next weight day.
  • amccrazgrl
    amccrazgrl Posts: 315 Member
    I lift first and then do cardio. That is when I even bother to do it. I'm not a fan of it. The only piece of cardio I can stand is the Arc Trainer.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    So I do 5-10 warm up on treadmill and then do machines 2 different arm machines, 1 leg machine and then sit ups and then back on treadmill for 25 minutes. Is this enough of a workout or do I need to increase duration of cardio. I don't like running on the treadmill but have an incline and get my heartrate upto 150-160.

    thanks
    try to limit your use of machines and go to the freeweights. You won't get big, trust me. I am lifting around 200lbs on barbells and since I am not eating a surplus I am small. :)
  • rcramer7
    rcramer7 Posts: 138 Member
    So I do 5-10 warm up on treadmill and then do machines 2 different arm machines, 1 leg machine and then sit ups and then back on treadmill for 25 minutes. Is this enough of a workout or do I need to increase duration of cardio. I don't like running on the treadmill but have an incline and get my heartrate upto 150-160.

    thanks
    try to limit your use of machines and go to the freeweights. You won't get big, trust me. I am lifting around 200lbs on barbells and since I am not eating a surplus I am small. :)

    I bought a small(150lb stack) home gym, used for 150 bucks and I have a flat bench I mostly just sit on. I workout in, basically, in a storage room.Believe me, I GET IT DONE!
    Sure, free weight will icorperate more control/balance muscles but, a pound is still a pound! I'd lift a bag of turds if it's all I had............or just like lifting turds.lol
  • chatnel
    chatnel Posts: 688 Member
    thanks for all the advice everyone (except the turd lifting..lol)

    think I might do dome free wieghts as well, but it is so hard to get space in my gym as it is packed out most evenings.

    I like to cardio as I want to see my fitness improve and I like the fact I can have a little extra to eat
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