More money than brains?

Mike_K · 04-May-05, 12:50 PM

I've been using a personal trainer for about 3 months now with Ballys and have had great results so far but I'm not sure that I'm on the right track for meeting my goal. Here's the skinny:

Over the last 3 months I have lost 44lbs of fat and gained 14lbs of muscle so I have been very happy with where things have been going. I now weigh 229lbs and would like to get down to about 210 at which point I want to start concentrating on building muscle and maintaining weight.

The problem I'm concerned with is reading here and other places that the cardio I'm doing (20 minutes high intensity, 5 days a week followed by a 30 minute workout) is actually making me weaker in addition to removing fat. I would like to keep the muscle as well as lose the weight. Perhaps this needs changing or perhaps my goal needs adjusting. Input is welcome.

**InkZ** · 04-May-05, 02:42 PM

The general concensus is do your workout before your cardio.

HOWEVER

I'd say looking at what you've achieved, what you're doing now is working for you, so I'd stick with it until you stop seeing gains. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Also high intensity works your muscles hard, in theory making them stronger, so your less likely to loose muscle mass than if you did a 45 minute jog.

**MostMuscle** · 04-May-05, 03:08 PM

As long as your routine includes a balanced amount of weight-training, you should not worry about losing too much muscle.

Cort · 04-May-05, 08:54 PM

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about losing muscle, but you may find that you can lift harder if you do that first and run second. Have you asked your trainer about it?

Mike_K · 04-May-05, 10:36 PM

Yes I have actually and he says we can swing both ways with it but if I'm going to take a more serious approach to lifting to do cardio afterwards. So we'll give this a go for 4 - 6 and see what happens.

**Jaster** · 05-May-05, 08:15 AM

Cardio afterwards is better not only does it leave you open to go full out on the weights with out losing energy. This will also help flush out the lactic acid that has built up.

**midgetcop** · 06-May-05, 05:13 PM

I've always done cardio after weights, and so far I'm still making good progress on both strength *and* cardio gains.

Xhale · 08-May-05, 07:30 AM

Just one question: When you lift weights you're supposed to eat as soon as possible afterwards. Does cardio mess that up or is that just a part of the workout?

**threenorns** · 08-May-05, 07:46 AM

part of the workout? you mean like "....annnnnnnnd BITE and chew and chew and swallow, BITE and chew and chew and swallow...."?

Mike_K · 09-May-05, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xhale

Just one question: When you lift weights you're supposed to eat as soon as possible afterwards. Does cardio mess that up or is that just a part of the workout?

I would presume that keeping the cardio Intense would still be part of the workout and thus as long as eating right afterwards you would still be in good shape.

Then again this is all speculation.

10-May-05, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xhale

Just one question: When you lift weights you're supposed to eat as soon as possible afterwards. Does cardio mess that up or is that just a part of the workout?

If you are concerned then use some protein and creatine pre workout. This will give good gains too.

nate · 15-May-05, 09:39 PM

just get on the treadmill or bike and suck down a protien shake?