[OptimistK]

I would like some advice/feedback from you all on my workout routine. It's working, but I'm thinking about changing it up!!!

I currently do:

Cardio
60 minutes of interval training on elliptical
5 minute warm up
5 minutes @ 77-78 RPM
2 minutes resting @ 45-48 RPM
5 minutes @ 77-78 RPM
3 minutes resting @ 45-48 RPM
Repeat until minute 55 and finish with 5 minute cooldown to complete 60 mins.

Resistance Training

Upperbody

Preacher curls: 12 reps @ 40 lb.s, 10 reps @ 50 lbs, 8 reps @ 60 lbs.
Lat Pulldown: 14 reps @ 50 lbs., 12 reps @ 60 lbs., 10 reps @ 70 lbs
Pec Dec: 12 reps @ 50 lbs, 10 reps @ 60 lbs, 8 reps @ 70 lbs
Tricep Dips: 12 reps @ 50 lbs, 10 reps @ 60 lbs, 8 reps @ 70 lbs
Tricep Pulldowns: 12 reps @ 30 lb.s, 10 reps @ 35 lbs, 8 reps @ 40 lbs.
Shoulder Press: 12 reps @ 30 lb.s, 10 reps @ 35 lbs, 8 reps @ 40 lbs.
Seated Row: 12 reps @ 30 lb.s, 10 reps @ 40 lbs, 8 reps @ 40 lbs.

Lowerbody

Squats: 3 sets of 12 reps
Lunges 3 sets of 10 reps
Bosu Squats: 3 sets of 16 reps
Hamstring curl: 12 reps @ 50 lb.s, 10 reps @ 60 lbs, 8 reps @ 70 lbs.
Seated Leg Extension: 12 reps @ 40 lb.s, 10 reps @ 50 lbs, 8 reps @ 60 lbs.

I'm thinking of reducing my cardio intervals to 2 mins. fast/1 min. recovery. I was losing much more when I was doing this earlier in my weightloss journey, therefore I think I should start doing this again, just at faster speeds. I'm thinking of increasing the weights for all of my resistance workouts, but decreasing the reps. Also, i'm thinking about adding weights for my squats and lunges. Lastly, should I be training my abs at this point? I don't want to do the wrong excersises to actually push them out and make them bigger, which I know is possible.

Sorry for the long post, but any suggestions?

[maryblu]

Sweetie, I have no IDEA, let alone a humble opinion. All I can say, is YOU GO, GIRL!!! You go. I just salute you for doing it. We all just have to find what works, and GO!! Good for you!!

[surrealchereal]

I'm thinking of reducing my cardio intervals to 2 mins. fast/1 min. recovery. I was losing much more when I was doing this earlier in my weightloss journey, therefore I think I should start doing this again, just at faster speeds. I'm thinking of increasing the weights for all of my resistance workouts, but decreasing the reps. Also, i'm thinking about adding weights for my squats and lunges. Lastly, should I be training my abs at this point? I don't want to do the wrong excersises to actually push them out and make them bigger, which I know is possible.

Read this article about Wind Sprints and I think you'll answer your question.
If you increase your weight and decrease your reps you'll build bulk. So it depends on what you want to do. Lower weight and more reps is usually what women prefer. Not typical I prefer more weight and fewer reps.
Yes you should include your abs for a balanced workout.

[baffled111]

You could/should probably add in some ab work but I want to observe that many of the other exercises engage the abs without working them directly. I don't work mine directly very often (don't like crunches!), but I can feel them working when I do my other exercises. The trainer at my gym once suggested that I do seated rows with my feet on the ground rather than on the foot pad thing. You have to drop the weight a bit (as you can't brace yourself with your feet), but when you do your abs come into play much more. I also particularly feel my abs working when I do db presses. Personally, I only care about my abs insofar as they are able to work along with the rest of my muscles, and they seem to be keeping up fine.

As far as the weights go in general, you should be increasing either the weight or the reps almost every time you go into the gym. You need to keep challenging your muscles. You might want to look into the various schemes you can use to keep progressing; there are lots of different ways to approach it. I made this up myself (so it's of dubious general value) but for a while, I would start an exercise at 3x10 and keep with the same weight for a couple of days until I could manage 3x12. Once I finished 3x12, I'd increase the weights and restart at 3x10 all over again. You can choose whether you want to do more reps at lower weights or fewer reps at higher weights (and you can cycle too: 6 weeks with fewer reps and then 6 weeks with more reps, and so on), but you should have some system to keep yourself progressing.

And yes, add weight to your squats and lunges! But do be careful. You might also want to think about doing some deadlifts instead of hamstring curls. It's a great lower body exercise and does wonders for the butt. If you do squats, lunges and deadlifts you can give up the leg extensions and the hammy curls and shave a little time off your workouts.