Exercise question(s)

Canis Lupus

So I gave up the smokes 2 months ago and now I've joined a gym (it's through work so cheap and it's literally across the road).

So I go during my lunch and it's nice and quiet but that means I can't really fit in alot in one go (I can't really see myself going before or after work at least to begin with.)

Basically, will devoting alternating days to cardio only and then weights only with weekends off be fine or detrimental in any way? My goals are fairly small to begin with, lose half a stone fat and increase tone/size of my arms, increase general fitness (cardio).

Or should I just bite the bullet and devote time after work to a proper workout?

Hanley

Sounds like a plan!

Canis Lupus

So dividing the days is all good? Good.

Did some running and rowing today. Bejaysus that rowing lark is a killer on the arms but actually fun once you get into the rythm.

By the way Hanley, totally OT, but in your squat video, if you were wearing a priests outfit you'd have been a dead ringer for Fr Ted. It made me laugh, but in a nice way cos I don't make a habit of laughing in a nasty way at someone who can lift those kinds of weights.

ruprect

Canis Lupus wrote: »

So dividing the days is all good?

Yeah, some do not like doing cardio after weights, as some think it can effect gains- and weights should always be done before cardio. If you have only 40mins per day that is enough for a weights session. You could get in cardio outside of the gym- cycle or walk to work, shops, pub etc.

Most recommend no more than 60min workouts, after which time hormones and energy levels have fallen from peak. I used to do long sessions when I first started. Now I have weights at home and I usually try to do something everyday now- usually quick & fast. I might do 3 sets of military presses in the morning, then when I get home do 3-4 sets of chin & pull ups. I like the idea of always being in a post workout state, thereby raising my metabolism. Thats my excuse for pigging out anyways!

Hanley

I think the OP was suggesting doing weights on some of his lunch breaks during the week, and cardio on the other days..?

BTW, I've been told I look like a lot of people, but Fr. Ted was never one of them. So thanks, I gues??

Canis Lupus

It's the hair altho I don't think Father Crilly could quite have managed that weight.

EileenG

In fact, concentrate your workouts on compound lifts like squads, deadlifts, bench press, pull-ups, military press etc, and you could do a full workout in half an hour, leaving time to shower and grab a shake.

Pherekydes

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Bejaysus that rowing lark is a killer on the arms but actually fun once you get into the rythm.

Where on your arms? Forearms? Or upper?

Your forearms can take a bashing due to the gripping of the handle. It eases after a while. At the start I found letting off the handbrake in the car a nasty experience, but maybe that's me.

Upper arms don't do a lot in this exercise. Most of the work is done by the legs, with a small pull with the upper body/arms at the end of the stroke, but the wheel is already moving fast so the loading is quite small. If you're in any doubt about how you're doing it ask an experienced rower. They're the big guys rowing at 3 times the speed of others with half the stroke rate. (A bit of an exaggeration)

Canis Lupus

Forearms hurt which is actually a body part I want to build/define. Somewhat worringly some tedon or muscle kept twanging at the start but it went away after a couple of pulls, I'm putting it down to never having exercised before.