I'm a cardio freak, apparently. I wasn't always one. In fact, for most of my adult life I professed the superiority of strength training, while giving sparse attention to cardio. However, at my currently advanced age (34) I realized that the strength training just wasn't working!
Okay. Enough with the pretentious narration! Basically, this all started around the 4th of July. I had been doing an hour of strength training a day for years, and was always unsatisfied with my body fat %. I kept thinking that eventually, if I kept pumping enough iron I'd drop fat. It never happened. While I did lose some by changing my diet, cutting out sweets and spacing out my meals, it didn't seem to be enough.
To make matters worse, I slipped into a pretty bad depression at the time that I'm just now getting over. I even posted a rather amaturish video of myself with during a depressive episode on YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcPigehSX4 - a link for those interested). So I kinda realized that I needed to change something in order to help myself feel better.
I picked up a body fat measuring scale months ago, and it reported I was at 26.1% body fat. I personally think this is a high measurment. I'm probably around 18%, but the scale is a way to measure any progress I make.
So back to my cardio plan. I started around the 4th, as I said, running for 30 minutes 2-3 times a week. I slowly amped that up to an hour. A few weeks back I began going regulary after work. Now, since I'm on an extended break (laid off), I've been going for an hour to 90 minutes every single day.
I guess what I'm hoping to find out is how much cardio is enough! I mean, given the amount of time I spend out there running, I'm getting a pretty good tan but have yet to drop any body fat according to the scale (I did get down to 25.9%). Now, I'm not expecting dramatic results by any means. I don't expect to drop 20lbs in a week like in those stupid commercials you see at 2am on cable.
But I also don't want to get discouraged by all this if I continue to not see results. I thought about going to to get help. The university I attend has a fitness center where you can sign up to see a dietician and fitness expert. I don't think I need someone there telling me what to do when I work out, but it would be nice to get some advice.
Just to clarify, when I do cardio I don't spend the entire hour running. I start out warming up for about 5 minutes, and quickly knock out a mile without stopping (it's a quarter mile outdoor track). I then walk for about half a lap, and run a lap, walk half, run one, ect until I get to 2-3 miles. Then I walk half and run half for the rest of the time until I'm either ready to leave or pass out! :-)
I just thought I'd ask whether people here think this is an adequate workout plan, and if not what I could be doing to see better results. What sort of workout plan do you practice? I certainly don't expect a miracle, though Miracle Laurie would be nice, but I'd like to find out what works for my body. My goal is to drop from a 34 inch waist to 32, and at least 10% or less body fat. I want my abs to be more than just implied!
Any advice would be welcome! Thanks! :-)
Okay. Enough with the pretentious narration! Basically, this all started around the 4th of July. I had been doing an hour of strength training a day for years, and was always unsatisfied with my body fat %. I kept thinking that eventually, if I kept pumping enough iron I'd drop fat. It never happened. While I did lose some by changing my diet, cutting out sweets and spacing out my meals, it didn't seem to be enough.
To make matters worse, I slipped into a pretty bad depression at the time that I'm just now getting over. I even posted a rather amaturish video of myself with during a depressive episode on YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcPigehSX4 - a link for those interested). So I kinda realized that I needed to change something in order to help myself feel better.
I picked up a body fat measuring scale months ago, and it reported I was at 26.1% body fat. I personally think this is a high measurment. I'm probably around 18%, but the scale is a way to measure any progress I make.
So back to my cardio plan. I started around the 4th, as I said, running for 30 minutes 2-3 times a week. I slowly amped that up to an hour. A few weeks back I began going regulary after work. Now, since I'm on an extended break (laid off), I've been going for an hour to 90 minutes every single day.
I guess what I'm hoping to find out is how much cardio is enough! I mean, given the amount of time I spend out there running, I'm getting a pretty good tan but have yet to drop any body fat according to the scale (I did get down to 25.9%). Now, I'm not expecting dramatic results by any means. I don't expect to drop 20lbs in a week like in those stupid commercials you see at 2am on cable.
But I also don't want to get discouraged by all this if I continue to not see results. I thought about going to to get help. The university I attend has a fitness center where you can sign up to see a dietician and fitness expert. I don't think I need someone there telling me what to do when I work out, but it would be nice to get some advice.
Just to clarify, when I do cardio I don't spend the entire hour running. I start out warming up for about 5 minutes, and quickly knock out a mile without stopping (it's a quarter mile outdoor track). I then walk for about half a lap, and run a lap, walk half, run one, ect until I get to 2-3 miles. Then I walk half and run half for the rest of the time until I'm either ready to leave or pass out! :-)
I just thought I'd ask whether people here think this is an adequate workout plan, and if not what I could be doing to see better results. What sort of workout plan do you practice? I certainly don't expect a miracle, though Miracle Laurie would be nice, but I'd like to find out what works for my body. My goal is to drop from a 34 inch waist to 32, and at least 10% or less body fat. I want my abs to be more than just implied!
Any advice would be welcome! Thanks! :-)
