How long should a workout last cardio includ?

[Adam74]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering how long should a workout last? My workouts have been lasting around 1 hour plus 35 min of cardio on the top of that. is is too long? I workout 3 times a week. My schedule is the following:

MO

Chest, ABS, Forearms

WED

Shoulders, triceps, Legs (I don't do a lot of legs, just leg press and leg curls)

FRI

Back, Traps, Biceps

Is this program alright?

Is 1 hour too much for the weight training? How about 35 min of cardio on top?

Thanks a lot.

Adam

[Lee J B]

I dont need to look at your split to tell you the answer to your first sentence and the thread topic, yes it is far too long to be training. PLEASE consider this theory - do you carido on seperate days, this avoids letting your body munch away at your hard earned muscle. And hell....decreases your gym time too, 1 hour is plenty, I go 40mins intense.

[TsiTalon]

or you might do it the way i do . I work out 5 days a week and dont have time to do cardio on an off day. I know its intense but im gonna try it for a month or so and i rest all weekend. I sometimes work out in the morning and then go back later that night for cardio.

[bamafan]

What I have been doing is cardio for between 25-40 minutes after my workout. I don't have time to come in on an off day either. I limit the cardio time some because I don't want to start using muscle as fuel. A trainer once told me that if I did not get past 40-45 minutes I would not burn muscle. I also rest all weekend. My off days are Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. I do chest/back/cardio on Sunday because I have time, I am fully rested and I can take my time.

I have been told that it is better to do cardio on seperate days but I don't want to be in the gym everyday. I need those mental breaks from the gym.

I always do the weights first so they are more intense. Also your HR is already up when you get to the cardio.

[Adam74]

Thanks for the replies.
Well, I was already suspecting that my workouts were taking too long.
But the cardio matter, I was sure it was the right time to do it. I mean, after twe workout. That's because 2 good books in bodybuilding I have (one of them being a GOLD's GYM book),a trainer and 2 other BIG & Cut 230 Pounders bodybuilders at my gym said me the same thing. The books, the trainer and the 2 bodybuilders all said: " If you want to burn fat , do your cardio after your workouts. That's because if you do before, you will just burn your carbo energy you should be using for lifting. If you do it in a separated day, you will have to burn all your carbs first to then start to burn the fat, unless you come to the gym in the morning before breakfast, wich you should not. You will just take forever till you really start to hit the fat. When you do it after your weight training, you already used all the carbos for the lifting job, then when you start to run, you will hit the fat right away. You will start to burn fat right way if you keep the right HR. Just don't do too long and start to burn muscles too. But if you are in a high protein diet and do under 40 min of cardio, you should not lose any muscle." Now that was the word from the books, the trainer and the bodybuilders (which might be doing something right since they are huge and cut). So I think I will stick with it and my cardio will still be after my workout and will still be around 30-35 min. It's just how long my workout is lasting that worries me. I think I just rest too much between sets. So I can lift heavier. I need to speed up a bit. But somebody told me (this time, as it was a one source only and not 5 different ones agreeing in the same thing, I'm not sure it's true), that if you keep the weight training under 1 hour is not bad. But I'm not sure about that.
My split, I took from the GOLD's GYM book, so I think it's all right. I just need to speed up a little on the lifting part. I do 9 sets for chest, shoulders and back and 6 sets for biceps, triceps, forearms.
But thanks a lot for all the replies.

[MrPump]

Originally posted by TsiTalon
or you might do it the way i do . I work out 5 days a week and dont have time to do cardio on an off day. I know its intense but im gonna try it for a month or so and i rest all weekend. I sometimes work out in the morning and then go back later that night for cardio.

I do the same, I workout 5 days a week with weekends off, cardio 3 times a week(M,W,F) 15- 20 min cardio. 1 hr weight training, M-CHEST, TU- BACK, WED-SHOULDERS, THURS-BI'S, FRI-TRI'S AND LEGS. I've been doing this routine for about 6 mo. It's working great for me.

[MrPump]

Also, I might add, Your cardio should not be more than 20 minutes, unless you're trying to LOSE weight, which you will, but also at the expense of your weight training. In other words..little to no muscle gain.

[TsiTalon]

haha pump i do the same routine except i do both shoulder/legs together

[Adam74]

Hey TSi and Pump, how about ABS? I didn't see ABS on your routine. Do you guys do ABS at all?

[TsiTalon]

naaa doing abs, their for wussys ! Yeah I mix my Ab workout with bi's or tri's on thu or fri

[MrPump]

Yes, i work in abs (M,W,F) Usually between sets, 25-50, with different variation, by the time my workout is over, i've done about 6 sets of abs workout, It works for me, EX. After a set of bench press, I'll do 25-50 ab exersices, by the time i'm done with that, I'm ready to bench again,