Share your gym strategies!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I have to agree with weight training. I love what it has done to my thighs. I love having muscle. Building muscle makes you burn fat. I do the weights first and follow up with cardio, and I take a weight training class. I will usually do some cardio after class too.

When I was working with a trainer, he really emphasized that not doing the same thing all the time is the road to weight loss. He said our bodies quickly adapt to what we are doing, and it's not as efficient.

[gingerbug 3]

I am excited to start my first circuit training class today. It is 30 minutes long and it is followed by a 15 minutes abs class and thena 15 minutes stretch class that I plan to stick around for as well. I amm shooting for 3 days a week of this then 2 days of a much more intense cardio as well as one day a week pilates. I figure this is my plan for the next 10 weeks, if I feel my interest is flagging I will switch out for a couple of yoga classes for a break or just suck it up and do it anyway :thumbdown:

[losingjusme 12]

i couldnt agree more with the interval training.

when i was really losing, that is primarily what i was doing... i'd be on a machine - treadmill, elliptical, bike, whatever - go at a good pace... to where i can talk for 2-3 minutes.. then for 45-60 seconds i would go HARD ... like really really REALLY hard... i might have been able to squeak a word or two out, but that's it...

this is what i plan on doing after i deliver my wonderful son soon...

[lucyavery 0]

I need to understand this better. So, does one need to push the cardio and get the heart rate up, then do a few sets of weight training, then back to cardio at high intensity, then back to weights. Is that what you mean?

I think this is basically what my trainer has been doing with me. However, she always asks me if I need a break or need to catch my breath after the short cardio burst.

Thanks

[losingjusme 12]

I need to understand this better. So, does one need to push the cardio and get the heart rate up, then do a few sets of weight training, then back to cardio at high intensity, then back to weights. Is that what you mean?

I think this is basically what my trainer has been doing with me. However, she always asks me if I need a break or need to catch my breath after the short cardio burst.

Thanks

i think a SHORT break (no mroe than a minute or so) is ok ... when im doing it just cardio though, no break... for instance, on the elliptical - i would go 4-5 min at level 4 120 RPM, then i would go level 6 135 RPM for 60-90 seconds...

(these numbers are guestimates... im 36 weeks pregnant and havent done intervals in ages)..

but that's the basic idea...

[Jachut 487]

Yeah, that's how I do it.

initially I started doing that becuase basically I loathe standing around lifting weights. Its so boring. So I did it circuit style instead. Then I started googling it and really reading what circuit training can do for you.

I also resent any non aerobic time as my main focus is running and much as I appreicate how necessary strength training is, I felt it was taking me away from what I really needed - fat burning aerobic cardio. So this way keeps it aerobic (in fact VERY challenging) and builds the muscle I need too.

And it has improved my running a LOT.

[gingerbug 3]

I have to admit, stepping up workouts and adding circuits really helped me this week. I went from losing 1 pound a week on average for the previous few weeks to 2 pounds since I started this thread.

[gingerbug 3]

oh, and I have this nice long muscle starting to run down the front of my thighs that I am really happy about! I guess it is the little things, huh?

[Willowglen 5]

I joined the gyn and doing cardio dailey and circuit one day and weights the next day. I also just joined a boot camp 96 week program)that is 3 times a week for an hour. It is preety intense.

[gingerbug 3]

My gym has a bootcamp program too but it is at 5:30 in the morning. I dont think my 2 and 5 year old will want to get up that early (not to mention me!) LOL If they change the time to later I would go though

[losingjusme 12]

I have to admit, stepping up workouts and adding circuits really helped me this week. I went from losing 1 pound a week on average for the previous few weeks to 2 pounds since I started this thread.

thats GREAT!!!!

[lucyavery 0]

Thanks for the tips girls! I for one enjoy lifting weights, and really don't care much for cardio. I told my trainer I need the cardio because that is my weakness, and if she let me all I would do is weight training. But I KNOW I need to incorpoate cardio to lose weight. I told her my goal is lose inches, because we all know the scale can lie.

I have always wanted to be a runner, but I have never had the stamina. I gave my trainer the Couch to 5K program and told her I want to do that.

lucy