[beautifulone]

I feel like I should do more research instead of asking this question but I have read a lot and admittedly I'm a bit confused. How much should I exericse? How many cardio and weights per week and for how long? Does it matter whether I do a full body weights workout or do upper one day lower the next day? And should there be a one or two day rest period before I work-out the same muscle groups again? Should weights be done before or after cardio, and should stretching be done before or after both of those? How do I know how many sets of weights to do, and which ones to do at that? And what's the difference between strength training (is that weight lifting?) and strength endurance?

I don't mean this as an excuse but it seems like all this exercise takes a considerable amount of time, how do you all do it?! I'll be going back to school come September so fortunately I feel like I'll have so much more time (or a more flexible schedule anyways) to work out. Right now I work weekdays eight to four, so I only have about five hours between when I get home to when I should go to sleep between which to eat, work out, and relax. which means I either work out 1.5 hours after dinner, or eat less than three hours before I go to sleep. And I don't even have any other committments, or kids!! ... so I wonder how you all do it, especially those of you who have families or are otherwise committed - it's really quite amazing!

thanks in advance for your clarification, I really appreciate it.

[nelie]

There are many opinions to the questions you answered but I'll tell you somethings that I think.

With Cardio, I don't really think you need to spend a lot of time doing it. I think you need to do it regularly and intensely. The best way I have ever found to do cardio is high intensity interval training where you have a normal pace then you burst it for a certain period of time, then you go back to your normal pace.

With weights, you do need to rest the muscle group for a couple days after you work it. It needs time to repair. You can split up your workout however you want. You can do upper body one day then lower body the next weight training day.

What I've been doing lately and what works for me is to alternate cardio and weight training. I wouldn't recommend doing them in the same session. So one day you do cardio, next day you do weights, then the next day you do cardio again.

I hope this helps but really you will find what works best for you over time.

[3fcuser1058250]

5 hours in the evening leaves MORE than ample time to fit in a good one hour workout... As Nelie said, alternating one day of weights and one of cardio is a great idea!

It really doesn't matter what you do as long as you DO IT ... If you think you may not have time in the evening or will get lazy once you get home (happens to me all the time) have a light snack at work and to straight to do your workout, no if's and's or but's about it, pack your gym bag in the morning or the night before don't think twice about it and go right after work. OR if you're an early riser go in the morning before work... But definitely find something that works for YOU!!

Especially if you have not kids or commitments you are one lucky girl to be able to spend the time on yourself, so go for it you're worth every minute you spend working out...

[eadavenp]

ok- There are a lot of schools of thought on the questions you have asked. If you can, try working with a trainer for one or two sessions to get a routine down. Otherwise, try getting a book, like the Jillian Micheals book, Bob Greene' book, Body for Life, etc. to give you a sample program that will take you through 6 or 8 weeks of workouts to get you started. Personally, i do cardio 3-6x a week and lift full body 2 days a week.

[Vilandra485]

Well my answers are only my opinion and/or what I do, but here it goes:

How much should I exericse?
Try to do a little something everyday.

How many cardio and weights per week and for how long?
Try some amount cardio everyday, and weights every other day.

Does it matter whether I do a full body weights workout or do upper one day lower the next day?
If you find you can't fit a whole strength workout in, split it in half...upper one day, lower the next, upper, lower...etc

Should there be a one or two day rest period before I work-out the same muscle groups again?
YES! Make sure you let a muscle rest at least a day inbetween working it, as in you can work your biceps on M,W,F, but not T,W,T, you know?

Should weights be done before or after cardio, and should stretching be done before or after both of those?
I actually JUST read an article about that....that cardio won't ruin for strength training efforts unless you're working the same muscles during both...as in running, then doing squats and lunges - not the best...so if you want to get the most out of your strength training either do it first or rest after cardio before going into strength.

How do I know how many sets of weights to do, and which ones to do at that?
Beginners (never strength training before) can start at 2 sets of 10-15 reps each. Work up in rep and/or weight when it gets easy. As for the weights, use ones that make your muscle fatigued after about 10 reps...if you get to 15 and you could do more, then it's too light....if you can't do 10, it's too heavy. Also, different muscles will need different weights...such as I can lift double with my biceps than with my shoulder exercises.

Most of all, start slow, find out what works for you. Trail and error is needed to find a schedule and exercises that work for you. Remember, anything helps, don't exhaust yourself by overdoing it in the beginning. Good luck!!

[almostheaven]

How much you should do is going to depend entirely on your body. What you can handle, and what it takes to help you lose weight. What you can handle can change as you become more fit.

When I started out, 30 minutes was pushing it for me. Now, I do between 1 and 1 1/2 hours each day.

As far as ways to do it without taking a lot of time...

Do you get a lunch hour? I've jogged/walked on my lunch hour. I just take workout clothes and you can wash up in the bathroom afterward. Do a simple pony tail if you can get by with it, or go prepared with a hairdryer and shampoo if necessary. Eat lunch at your desk.

Do you work close to home? Bike to work. If not, take the bike and park farther away from the office and bike on in.

More than a one story building? Have fun on the stairs.

Do you sit down to TV in the evening? Stand up to it. Grab some weights and march in place, or get an exercise step and step up and down with weights. Or...hoola hoop anyone? It's easy after you get the hang of it. Try finding a weighted one. No hand weights, use a couple bottles of water. Leg weights are also a good investment.

If you spend 15 minutes in the morning, 15 at night and put in 30 at lunch, you've got a full hour of exercise in every day and it doesn't really cut into your day much that you'll notice a loss of time.

Add to that hour the simple daily moves that help you shed more pounds...

Park farthest from all doors.
Take shopping carts back into the store.
Take the steps, not the escalator/elevator.
Pace while on the phone, rather than sit.
Play with the kids at the park, or in the front yard...wherever. But get in there and play hard. Act like a kid again.
Take the dog for a walk rather than put him in the fenced yard.
Or try what I'm doing while I type this...replace your chair (home and work) with a body ball and just...sit on it.