Am I Wasting My Time With This Workout?

[rykertest]

ok so long story short, I'm a creature of habit with a VERY demanding schedule now. I get up at 4:30, hop on my elliptical trainer and burn about 150 - 200 calories then shower, eat and off to work. I do some kind of workout in the afternoon but I've gotten away from weights and do resistance stuff with my own body weight like pushups, situps, etc. I do this 5 days a week. Is this doing anything for me or would I be better served doing longer cardio and weight sessions say 3 days a week? My goals? I would like to lose about 15 lbs, but I have all the muscular size I need and just want to keep that. Plus with family and work I don't really have the time to live in the gym anymore and getting up any earlier reduces my scheduled 7 hours of sleep a night which I REALLY value.

Any thoughts from the mods or experts here?

 

[xblitz44x]

My goals? I would like to lose about 15 lbs, but I have all the muscular size I need and just want to keep that.

Any thoughts from the mods or experts here?

It's all about trial and error. How many calories are you taking in? Have you been taking in a consistent amount for a steady period of time? Have you lost weight with your program as of yet?

It's hard to give advice on what to adjust if a) you haven't monitored your intake, and b) given your program enough time to show what it's capable of.

I suggest the following:

• Use fitday.com to monitor your caloric intake.
• Follow your current plan and after a few weeks check your loss/gain.
• If you're not losing weight fast enough, either lower your calories or increase the time/intensity of your cardio.

 

[rykertest]

good post man k to you.

It's all about trial and error. How many calories are you taking in? Have you been taking in a consistent amount for a steady period of time? Have you lost weight with your program as of yet?

It's hard to give advice on what to adjust if a) you haven't monitored your intake, and b) given your program enough time to show what it's capable of.

I suggest the following:

• Use fitday.com to monitor your caloric intake.
• Follow your current plan and after a few weeks check your loss/gain.
• If you're not losing weight fast enough, either lower your calories or increase the time/intensity of your cardio.

 

[fortunatesun]

You can get excellent results with just bodyweight exercises. The example frequently used is Olympic gymnasts who do bodyweight only exercises yet show good development. They are often able to bench 2x their bodyweight when tested.
Don't forget your chins and dips (maybe you covered them under etc.) Sprints and/or one legged squats (pistols) are good for lower body.
Really, it's just the same as weighted exercises. If the amount of work and intensity is there you'll get a good result. Your body also adapts after a while, so change things up every so often.

 

[Sub-Zero]

You can get excellent results with just bodyweight exercises. The example frequently used is Olympic gymnasts who do bodyweight only exercises yet show good development. They are often able to bench 2x their bodyweight when tested.
Don't forget your chins and dips (maybe you covered them under etc.) Sprints and/or one legged squats (pistols) are good for lower body.
Really, it's just the same as weighted exercises. If the amount of work and intensity is there you'll get a good result. Your body also adapts after a while, so change things up every so often.

to compare a gymnast's physique and training and how it affects their body to someone who says they barely have enough time to get in 7 hours of sleep at night is just retarded.

i think that if your goal is low bodyfat and keeping muscle, the bodyweight bullshit wont be enough...if you have to chose between lengthy cardio and lifting, just go in to the gym on your lifting days, get in a good workout, and do 10-15 minutes of cardio after your glycogen stores are depleted from the workout...and off days stick to the morning cardio. but for the bodyfat decrease work mainly with your diet and carb timing.

i dont know how big you are or how big your lifts are, but unless you want to wither away i say keep lifting heavy and hard when you can, as a first priority before cardio

 

[fortunatesun]

to compare a gymnast's physique and training and how it affects their body to someone who says they barely have enough time to get in 7 hours of sleep at night is just retarded.

I don't see the conflict.
Personally, I get good results with the plan you've outlined, but everyone's different. His goals aren't the same as ours. It's more than just possible to maintain your physique w/o weights. Your muscle only knows it's being worked, not if you're lifting metal up and down. Pushups are too easy? Do them hundreds of other ways. Pullups also, as well as anything else.

 

[Sub-Zero]

I don't see the conflict.
Personally, I get good results with the plan you've outlined, but everyone's different. His goals aren't the same as ours. It's more than just possible to maintain your physique w/o weights. Your muscle only knows it's being worked, not if you're lifting metal up and down. Pushups are too easy? Do them hundreds of other ways. Pullups also, as well as anything else.

but even if he did all that he couldnt expect to look and have anywehre near the strength of a professional gymnast....those guys are highly conditioned athletes who train hours a day

 

[fortunatesun]

but even if he did all that he couldnt expect to look and have anywehre near the strength of a professional gymnast....those guys are highly conditioned athletes who train hours a day

for sure. It was just an example of what can be accomplished.