Fitness and weight lifting.

[blitz760]

Hello all!

I have been lifting weights for the past 2 years but haven't been concentrating on any cardiovascular or aerobic excercises. Recently however, I began to incorporate running/jogging into my weekly workout routine - now I am addicted to running as well.
The way I have my routine set up is that I strength train 3 times a week, and do cardio the remaining 2 days, for at least 45 minutes a day. Assuming that I am working out correctly and eating right: Am I overdoing it? Do I need more rest? Should I run more? Run less? Less weightlifting?
I really want to get both the benefits of strength training and cardio training. It seems a lot of you have much experience in fitness so I appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks! :

- Joe

[ajarvis]

Hi!
I love running too. Your question really depends on your goals. I currently only lift weights once a week. But once the training schedule I'm doing for running is over I'll be lifting weights 2 - 3 times a week for probably 3 weeks to recover from running. I still see improvements in strength only doing weights once a week so like I said depends on your goals.

:

[blitz760]

Originally Posted by ajarvis

Hi!
I love running too. Your question really depends on your goals. I currently only lift weights once a week. But once the training schedule I'm doing for running is over I'll be lifting weights 2 - 3 times a week for probably 3 weeks to recover from running. I still see improvements in strength only doing weights once a week so like I said depends on your goals.

:

Thanks for your responds. I guess my goals are to maintain my current muscle mass and strength while shedding excess fat and also drastically improving my current cardiovascular and respiratory fitness.

[Bvlgari]

Hey Blitz...

I have the same goals. I have a three day spilit workout, which I do for six days in a row. Each day I do cardiovascular. Usually I do cardiovascular early in the day, and weightlifting later in the day. My goal is to get a bf% of 3-4, be totally ripped, and run 1600 yards in 4 minutes or less. The bf% goal is top priority right now. Running comes after that, and the weight lifting is a backround goal that is continuous.

Currently I bench 185 pounds. Am rather proud of that, but compared to some guys in here, it ain't much. I started a year and a half ago at 90 pounds. I want to get that up to 220 pounds by the summer vacation. I want to work more with my own body weight, so soon I'll replace the Lat Mach for wide-grip pullups, normal close-grip pullups and behind-the-neck pull-ups. Right now I do 220 pounds on squats. I want to do 300 pounds by the end of the school-year. But I swear, it's hard. The only thing they have on my school is a bloody smith-machine, they have practically no dumbells, and the barbell's screwed.

My diet is usually dry toast (whole wheat) + oatmeal or yoghurt for breakfast. I drink milk.

For lunch today I ate tuna (there was no low fat mayo - sob sob) with mayo, tabasco and lemonjuice on the whole wheat bread. I reckon I won't need anymore fat today...

For dinner it looks like chicken. Lot's of veggies.

Doing excercise after you eat is supposed to be beneficial since it minimizes the risk of muscle being used for fuel.

Anyway, wish me good luck as I wish you good luck.

[Chain]

Hey Blitz,

You're fine. Running twice a week isn't going to hurt your attempts to gain muscle and strength. Sometimes people give cardio a bad name. If you were doing it everyday for an hour I'd say you'd be hurting yourself. But two 45 minute sessions a week isn't going to hurt. Your body can actually handle quite a bit assuming your healthy.