cardio with the 5x5 ....?

[maxspeed96ct]

I started doing the intermidate 5x5 this week. Love it, feels awsome.
Got the best total body pump ever and i was sweating like a pig!

I still want to get my B-F % lower and want to do some cardio withthis workout.
............ but my legs are taking a huge beating as it is. And I wanna make sure i get results from this workout.

This week I just did 15 min on tues and 15 min on thursday.

My diet is clean , mostly meats and tuna, veggies, fruits, brown rice, oatmeal, protein shakes and eggs.

Im 21,
5-11
195lbs
BF is at 13%

 

[Sim882]

I like cardio, and on 5 v5 want to keep doing Cardio - but yeah it is hard, given your legs take such a beating (specially if you do the power cleans on workout 1 and 3, and not the barbel row).

You could just perhaps do squats on the first and third workout, as legs are still involved in the deadlift on the 2nd workout.

Are you doing power cleans or rows? The cleans would further assault the legs if that's what your doing - you could change it the rows.

Finally, you could just do some other cardio (swimming/rowing/elliptical) instead of running or cycling which beats the legs less.

 

[coreyb]

I think you will lower your bodyfat without even doing cardio, especially if you're eating as clean as you say you are. The 5x5 burns so many calories compared to a bodybuilding routine due to all the compound lifts. IMHO.

 

[The Nose]

I started doing the intermidate 5x5 this week. Love it, feels awsome.
Got the best total body pump ever and i was sweating like a pig!

I still want to get my B-F % lower and want to do some cardio withthis workout.
............ but my legs are taking a huge beating as it is. And I wanna make sure i get results from this workout.

This week I just did 15 min on tues and 15 min on thursday.

My diet is clean , mostly meats and tuna, veggies, fruits, brown rice, oatmeal, protein shakes and eggs.

Im 21,
5-11
195lbs
BF is at 13%

Max,

I agree that the 5x5 is a great strength program. I am currently using its principle's myself. Keep in mind that gaining muscle mass requires caloric excess. The problem: So does accumulation of body fat. You have a couple options: 1) increase cardio and burn more calories, or 2) you can adjust (decrease) your caloric intake.


Keep in mind that our bodies can be delicate and there is be a fine line between losing body fat and actually reducing your bodies capability of accumulating muscle mass. It all depends on what your goals are.

The Nose

 

[solarclimax]

double post........

 

[solarclimax]

Yes you should do cardio whilst on 5x5, 15 mins twice a week is ok. If you want to see big size and or strength gains then just keep the cardio moderate as you are doing now because to much can hinder progress. You could loose bodyfat without doing cardio but it's better to do cardio also, it's good for your heart and cardio vascular system. Just keep it short but intense. Since i started boxing the fat is coming off really quickly so i don't buy the whole abs are made in the kitchen calories in vs calories out mumbo jumbo. Yes it's correct if you burn more calories than you eat you will lose weight. But when im sat on my ass all day i find it hard to stay away from the fridge, i took up boxing a couple months ago and when im in the gym training like hell i don't have time to stuff my face like i used to and im now losing fat at a nice rate.

 

[oso0960]

have you tried the 3x5 or the beginner 5x5?

 

[st8grad]

Yeah 15 minutes each day is nothing. As your legs get used to the workload it will be even less of an issue. Just add your cardio in slowly since strength is your main focus.

I started doing the intermidate 5x5 this week. Love it, feels awsome.
Got the best total body pump ever and i was sweating like a pig!

I still want to get my B-F % lower and want to do some cardio withthis workout.
............ but my legs are taking a huge beating as it is. And I wanna make sure i get results from this workout.

This week I just did 15 min on tues and 15 min on thursday.

My diet is clean , mostly meats and tuna, veggies, fruits, brown rice, oatmeal, protein shakes and eggs.

Im 21,
5-11
195lbs
BF is at 13%

 

[maxspeed96ct]

Did 5 min on the oliptical today, it felt good and I broke a good sweat .
.
Ill just stick to this and add on slowly