Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 382, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

Join group

I'm Back

Daniellieb
Daniellieb
Posts: 25
Joined: 2003/05/05
United States
2006/10/27, 02:26 PM
Hey There,

I haven't lifted weights in quite sometime and I'd like to get back into it. I have been sticking to some cardio though. I've been doing HIIT on the elliptical machine 3 days a week for 20 min. So I basically would like to lose 10lbs and get rid of fat. How many days a week do I need to lift weights for each muscle group? Also, should I be alternating cardio and weight training on different days? And is 20 min of HIIT cardio 3 times a week enough? I also should mention that I have my diet totally on track. I count my calories and track in a journal. I just really need to get my exercise back on track.

Danielle
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2006/10/29, 11:19 AM
danielle,

Switch from the 3 days of HIIT to one day steady state (about 75% MHR ) for 30-40 minutes, one day HIIT and one day something fun like kickboxing or a class or a video..

Since it has been a long time since you lifted you could ease in with a total body program, say M, W, F and cardio on the alternate days.

Try a circuit or a superset routine to start with, maybe a month or 2, then switch to an upper body/lower body split when you feel like the total body has done the job of conditioning your muscles/tendons sufficiently (5-6 weeks, maybe 8). There is a total body superset type routine outlined in he fat loss challenge in the overweight & obesity forum, give it a try. Or sign up for a program here at freetrainers.

What is totally on-track to you? How much and what type of carbs are you taking in? How much protein? How much fat?

--------------

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.
Napoleon Hill