Should i cut the cardio?

[Frisco Girl]

Hey everyone.... I changed my name and was "confused" before.

Anyways, here's my question.. I've been working on my diet, and Spatts gave me her cutting diet, Ive changed my routine to workout FIRST then cardio, but was thinking about cutting the cardio for awhile coupla weeks to see if i see any improvment muscle wise.

But i'm afraid if i cut the cardio i won't be able to get back on track. I know if i keep my diet "clean" and workout harder then i most likley won't gain any fat, hoping on muscle.

Does anyone think that this makes or breaks me in anyway or should i stay with cardio.

PS, I already cut cardio down to 30 minutes 3 times a week.
I workout 5 times a week.

Thanks

 

[Frisco Girl]

Hey Spatts Well i haven't tried sprinting interval training yet.

How do you do this? Outside? Can you do this on a treadmill?

 

[JJFigure]

You can do it on a treadmill, but I prefer to do it outdoors. I head up to the high school and use their track for the following:

2 laps jog (warmup)
10 x 100 m sprints
4 laps of ladders - sprint 100, jog 100

For the ladders, some people sprint 100, walk 100; you may need to start off with just 2 laps and work your way up. I also know some people do 40 m sprints instead of 100 m sprints - it's kind of up to you.

I don't have a treadmill sprint workout - hopefully someone else can help you out.

 

[Frisco Girl]

I could do that!! I can try on the elipital first (cause i like my joints too LOL) and then go to the lake by my house to try your outdoor plan.


How many times a week do you guys do this? Also is it YOUR only form of cardio?

 

[Frisco Girl]

Thank you very much!

 

[Nelson Montana]

Aerobics are worthless.

Sprints aren't really "aerobics."

 

[smoknjilly]

i;m going to try this, I need a change up in my cardio!

question - with the ellipical trainer...what level intensity should you use for sprints? and um, how high should the slant be...? or should you have it flat on the lowest notch..

 

[TEXgrl]

You can do it on a treadmill, but I like my joints, so I do it on an eliptical or shock absorbant track (you know the spongy kind...not gravel or wood chips, etc..). It' really easy. You go for 20-30 mins tops. You go as fast as you can until you can't anymore, then you slow down until you can breath and talk at the same time again, and then you hit it hard again. For me, this corresponds to about 400 meters of a track, and a quarter to 1/2 lap walk. On the eliptical it's about 2 minutes at 90RPM, and maybe 30-60 seconds at 50 RPM.

i LOVE doing the eliptical like this! i sometimes just for fun, and because i like the burn on my calves will do it on my toes for two minutes on the high rpm! burn!

 

[smoknjilly]

ok spatts...

elliptical sprints here I come! i'll probably get funny stares from the other people at the gym but I dont care...

plus, I know it will help me get out some of the "PMS aggression" I have right now grrrrrrr

 

[JJFigure]

I only do sprint training once or twice a week. Sometimes, I just jog 300 meters and sprint 100 meters for laps (I quit after 30 minutes). Then I finish up with uphill walking lunges using bodyweight (there's a decent hill at the high school). I'll do 60-80 steps for 2-3 sets (depending on how tired I am). This gives me a killer pump and I consider this a light leg day.

The only other cardio I do is HIIT on the elliptical (I have one at home). 2 minutes low intensity, 2 minutes high intensity for 30 minutes. I used to do cardio 6x a week when dieting for comp; I've learned to just keep my carbs low and I don't have to do as much cardio (YAH!!). I'm pretty close to comp so I'm now doing cardio 4 times/week, but I started off my diet with only 2 days/week of cardio.