So I have SEVEN days until my 32nd birthday! SO EXCITED!
I've scored the birthday entertainment, but still undecided about the birthday dinner and attire. I really want a snazzy (Yes, I did say snazzy...lol) dress to wear to the theatre, but I've been to sick and too tired to even go look. Never mind the $$$$ are extremely low, so I definitely need the time it takes for bargain hunting. I should be able to look for something spicy this weekend. This is my first birthday as a wife and my first time going to the "real" theatre, so I want to look HOT!
Now on to the workout discussion. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (www.acsm.org), the basic exercise guidelines for healthy adults under age 65 is do moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, five days a week or do vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week, or do eight to 10 strength-training exercises, eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week.
I know people who power walk 30 minutes 5 days a week. I also know folks who work out twice a day for hours at a time. After reading Mark's Daily Apple (www.marksdailyapple.com), Urban Get Diesel (www.byersgetsdiesel.com), and many other online sources, I am leaning toward the notion that doing vigorous intense cardio for 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week is the way to go. I've recently fallen in love with Crossfit, as many of you know, and I can honestly say my body was never as toned and tight as when I was doing that, as opposed to doing the treadmill or elliptical for 60 minutes. I'm also loving circuit training via Jillian Michaels right now. But these kind of workouts do not work for or inspire everyone.
So here's my question: Do you love the elliptical or treadmill and can stay on it for hours on end? Do you love lifting heavy and often? Do you run miles on top of miles every week? Do you love calisthenics so much you just have to do push-ups every day?
Tell me...what's working for you?
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My opinion on this has changed a LOT over the last few months. I have tried both and I think that the CF methodology works - but I think it's for those ppl who are there or almost there. I was tight and toned while doing CF - but I didn't lose weight. I have a lot of weight to lose, so while I appreciated the tightening and my bulging biceps, I would have loved to lose some weight doing it. Now that I'm back to the gym doing 60 minute cardio classes or treadmill or 60 min body pump classes - I'm starting to see myself lose weight and inches. I think that CF by itself didn't burn enough calories for me via cardio. I got huge muscles, but they were still covered in a good layer of fat.
ReplyDeleteNow, I think another big factor in this is diet. Most of the time we did CF, we were pushed onto paleo or paleo like dieting. I think that when you eat paleo, you inherently eat a much lower calorie diet and you also are eating super clean. I think THAT is a huge factor in that lifestyle, one that is understated. I personally, cannot do paleo...at least right now. So my diet is going to have a few more calories and be a little dirtier. That means that I'll need to burn more calories in order to account for what I'm eating additional.
I just think that in general - you have to look at your goal and that makes a huge difference in what you are doing to lose it. I think that a mix of doing both options - some short super ridiculously intense workouts and some longer workouts would probably do best for most ppl like us who are looking for major weight loss. I do see myself going back to CF, but when I am lighter. I always change shape a little and get muscles from lifting, even 2x a week full body. Muscle building is not the problem - I need the program that actually will burn the fat and for me right now - that's good old fashioned hour long cardio sessions. But I DO think that everyone needs to mix in weights. My 2 days of cardio and 2 days of weights is providing a great combination for me right now, so I'm going to ride it til the wheels come off, then re-evaluate.