Advice on changing my routine

Sauce

Im a 22 year old male and started going to the gym a few months ago. I had been going religously 3 times a week spending about 1.5 - 2 hours each session. My aim was to gain some size, strength and fitness. I would do 1 - 1.5 hrs cardio on one night and on the other two nights I would do a half hours cardio and the rest on weights.

For the past month I have been having personal problems and this has effected my gym attendance. I have not trained for the past 3 weeks. The personal problems are still ongoing, but I feel like I should get back doing something at the gym. I would like to go but not spend so much time there so here is my question.

If I went 3 times a week and in each session done 20 - 25 mins running on the thread mill and lets say 30 - 40 mins doing weights, am I likely to see any gains? Would I be better to do the cardio before, after or split some before and some after doing weights?

justsomebloke

Weight sessions should only be around 50-60 minutes anyway once you have a good weight plan in place you should be fine and still able to see soem gains.

In relation to the cardio start running out doors. It just means that you don't have to spend the time travelling to and from the gym just to have a small run on the treadmill, and so can get a longer workout and it is generally more enjoyable anyway and the fresh air may help you take your mind off other things. Also the other important thing is to try and keep your diet as clean as possible, i know it can be hard when under stress but it will help you jsut as much as your workouts will

DubNside

As JSB says, do no more than 1 hour on the weights.

If your trying to put on weight, then you could cut down the cardio to walking or running out doors.

Also eat plenty of protein!

Sauce

Thanks for the replys.

Will doing say 40 mins weights and 20 - 25 mins cardio 2 - 3 times a week be enough? Its just at this stage I dont think I could do much more.

DubNside

Up the cardio to 30-40mins and try going 4 times a week if your that serious.

Sauce

DubNside wrote:

Up the cardio to 30-40mins and try going 4 times a week if your that serious.

I am serious but due to some personal problems that I am experiencing in my life at the moment I dont think I can give anymore time, thats is why I am trying to work out what is best to do with the time I have

justsomebloke

Sauce just exercise when you can, you are only 22 you have plenty of time to get big and get fitter deal with your problems first as that is what is important to you know. Best bet is to view the gym as a place where you can escape from your problems and focus or something else. If you can 2 good weight sessions of no more then an hour will be fine for the moment just making sure your diet is good as this will be just as important. Also the reason i suggested out door running is that you generally don't have to plan for it you can just get changed and go for a run when ever you can and for as long as can afford to as oppose to the gym where you have to plan to go and then spend at least a certain amount of time so your not just wasting your time

Sauce

Thanks jsb for your advice, I really appreciate it. Thanks DunNside for your advice also.