Doing too much?

[jamaicaker]

I am having a hard time with wanting to stick with my workout plan. I usually alternate days with weights, upperbody one day and lower body about everyother day. I usually do 50 min on the stair climber and another 20-30 min on either the eliptical or the treadmil. Everyother day I add a 21 min run for basic training practice. I work out every day. I am a slow looser with the seesaw weight thing going, I eat around 1500 calories a day. What am I not doing or what do I need to be doing? Please give suggestions. I am also on induction phase still. :help:

[Built]

Okay, well - you may be doing too much cardio and not focussing enough on your lifting. You may also need to add in some strategic refeeds on lifting days, as in TKD or carb/calorie cycling a bit on lifting days.

Personally, I get better results from intense lifting 4x a week with some recreational cardio than from doing cardio every day.

My .02

[loCarbJ]

You also may be exercising too anaerobically. I find that, for me, if I exercise too anaerobically, I don't feel like coming back to it.

My rule is, you should always feel good after a workout. You should feel like you want to back tommorrow and do some more. I pay very close attention to my feelings while I am working out and I monitor my heart-rate closely. I find that for me, when I exercise with my heart-rate in the range between 160 and 165, I feel really good afterwards. I feel like I can't wait to come back and do some more. (Note: I have been continually raising this level over the past 2 years.) You may find that your level is a lot lower, my point is that it is important to find your level.

Second, I find that a social aspect is also important for motivation. I like doing my exercise with other people; and the more people, the better. As a result, I like doing a lot of group exercises and popular group events (like sponsored runs, rides, triathlons and other public events). This is a big motivator for me!

Good luck and have fun!

J.

[jamaicaker]

I have heard a lot of talk about the TKD thing, but I don't know what it is. I also don't work out with other people cause I don't have any around for 1, and 2 , when I do have someone to workout with, I end up wanting to do my own thing anyways.

[Built]

I think the social aspect may be a bigger thing for aerobic activities than for resistance activities. I go into my own little zone when I lift.

I totally agree with the dread factor, too. When I'm chomping at the bit to get out and train, I'm training well. When I dread it, I'm overtraining.

For me, the "optimal" amount of training is generally 4x a week lifting, twice a week cardio, once a week total rest.

[jonthepa]

I think a lot of your problem may have to do with too many "usually"'s. A man (or lady) is gonna get bored if you know exactly what awaits you everytime you go into the gym. Your body will also learn what awaits it and make steps to do it the easiest way possible re: burn less calories and make less muscle. I never do the same workout twice and it works wonders for my mental health and doing pretty well physically these days. I bought my first pair of 34 inch waist pants this week since I was a junior in high school. And I was a soccer player for cryin out loud.