Cardio Q

After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone clarify?

Cp

On 11/18/2003 7:53 AM, Cp wrote:
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone clarify?

Cp

Gosh, Cp, I think that you'll get a lot of opinions about this. For me,
it has to be something that I enjoy more than anything else. I mean,
there are exercise routines that might be better for me but the one that
I acutally do is the one that is best :-) So, does this sound like
something that you would enjoy? If so, go for it! I know that strength
training several times a week is good. I have read something about
spacing the use of each muscle group but 48 hours (det will be able to
comment on that more intelligently!) so every other day sounds good.

One other question for you to think about, what is your contingency
plan? I mean, if you go need to go out of town for work or you have a
hockey game or something that night, what will you do? For me, having a
backup plan helps :-)

Good luck!
--
jmk in NC

"Cp" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine
that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)


Sounds like a good plan, cp. You might want to consider a day of rest or
at least some form of light exercise one day a week.

Beverly


Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done
every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone
clarify?

Cp

On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 12:53:05 GMT, "Cp" wrote:

After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)


3 days of a good full body workout is fully sufficient.

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone clarify?

The key is to not over do it to the point of burnout. Many of us
have faced burnout and its really a struggle to keep going once you
hit that stage, or to get back on track once you take a break.

Right now, I'm struggling. After 12 weeks of 4 days a week bootcamp,
plus some weekend warrior cardio, I took a break. That was 3 weeks
ago, and to motivate myself to get back to a routine of some sort is
not working. The alarm goes off in the mornings, I turn it off. I
get home in the evenings and I'm too whiped to have the energy to
workout, or there's just too many other things to do to get to the
workout.

The key is finding a balance. And finding a comfort zone you can work
with.

"Cp" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine that
I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone clarify?

I think cardio can be done every day, but you shouldn't work the same muscle
in weight training 2 days in a row, to give it time to repair the muscle. I
currently do a full body workout MWF, and don't do cardio - until ski season
opens that is! If I were more ambitious, I would do cardio on Tu-Th, and
take the weekend off. Your body does need some time to rest too, for best
results.

det

"jmk" wrote in message
...
On 11/18/2003 7:53 AM, Cp wrote:
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine
that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done
every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone
clarify?

Cp

Gosh, Cp, I think that you'll get a lot of opinions about this. For me,
it has to be something that I enjoy more than anything else. I mean,
there are exercise routines that might be better for me but the one that
I acutally do is the one that is best :-) So, does this sound like
something that you would enjoy? If so, go for it! I know that strength
training several times a week is good. I have read something about
spacing the use of each muscle group but 48 hours (det will be able to
comment on that more intelligently!) so every other day sounds good.

One other question for you to think about, what is your contingency
plan? I mean, if you go need to go out of town for work or you have a
hockey game or something that night, what will you do? For me, having a
backup plan helps :-)

Good luck!
--
jmk in NC

I haven't got a contigency plan but that was the whole idea in the first
place. To find a time of day with as little "excuses" as possible (like the
"can't do it at night, I'm too tired, can't do it in the afternoon, I
volunteer for 2 a week, etc.) We finally decided on early morning (7am for
cardio days, 9:30am for strength training).

"Ignoramus4244" wrote in message
...
In article ogers.com,
Cp wrote:
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine
that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)

Whether this plan will help you depends on quantity of time spent.

20 minutes per day will not give you much, although it would be better
than doing nothing.

Cardio will be 30-45 minutes, ST will be is currently at 30 minutes but I'll
be adding exercises to make it more like 45-60 minutes.

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done
every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone
clarify?

This applies to athletes who train very hard. A typical dude going for
1 hour walks or 20 minute runs could as well do it every day. With
strength training though, you do benefit from giving yourself 1-2 days
of rest per week.

i

Cp

"Beverly" wrote in message
...

"Cp" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine
that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)


Sounds like a good plan, cp. You might want to consider a day of rest or
at least some form of light exercise one day a week.

Beverly



Saturday is my day off or light day. Haven't decided which and I probably
never will. I'll just take it one weekend at a time.

"Jayjay" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 12:53:05 GMT, "Cp" wrote:

After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine
that I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)


3 days of a good full body workout is fully sufficient.

Cool

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done
every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone
clarify?

The key is to not over do it to the point of burnout. Many of us
have faced burnout and its really a struggle to keep going once you
hit that stage, or to get back on track once you take a break.

Right now, I'm struggling. After 12 weeks of 4 days a week bootcamp,
plus some weekend warrior cardio, I took a break. That was 3 weeks
ago, and to motivate myself to get back to a routine of some sort is
not working. The alarm goes off in the mornings, I turn it off. I
get home in the evenings and I'm too whiped to have the energy to
workout, or there's just too many other things to do to get to the
workout.

The key is finding a balance. And finding a comfort zone you can work
with.

Yes and I slowly learned that. My biggest challenge was time. There was
never (or rather I never chose) a consistent time to work out.

"determined" wrote in message
...

"Cp" wrote in message
le.rogers.com...
After much delay I'm finally trying to put together a workout routine
that
I
can actually stick to. My thoughts are for strength training (via the
total
gym) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then some sort of cardio on
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Here's the Q.. well actually, a few Q's.

Q1. Does that sound like a plan that will work to get into better
physical
condition (and yes I know, any exercise, whenever I do it will help but
I'm
talking about making a substantial difference)

Q2. I remember something about cardio not being as effective if done
every
day, but I also remember some exceptions to that rule. Can anyone
clarify?

I think cardio can be done every day, but you shouldn't work the same
muscle
in weight training 2 days in a row, to give it time to repair the muscle.
I
currently do a full body workout MWF, and don't do cardio - until ski
season
opens that is! If I were more ambitious, I would do cardio on Tu-Th, and
take the weekend off. Your body does need some time to rest too, for best
results.

det

I've got about 20 exercises and I have yet to figure out what combos to
use. I'll aim for about 15 every other day. Saturday is my day off and
Sunday is a 2hr walk.

And pardon me if this is an idiotic question.. but what is MWF?