In what order should i Exercise?

Each evening I..

-jog 1.5 miles
-do punching bag cardio (about 5 mins non stop)
-bench press

is that order ok or will switching around things benefit me better?


FYI: 25 yr male, 245 lbs
 
Each evening I..

-jog 1.5 miles
-do punching bag cardio (about 5 mins non stop)
-bench press

is that order ok or will switching around things benefit me better?


FYI: 25 yr male, 245 lbs

What is your goals? I particularly dont like the amount of weight training being done. Whats the diet like?
 
Looks like you need to add more weights. This has been discussed before, but there's no definitive answer. I personally find it difficult to do cardio after lifting. But on the other hand, I'm sure I would be able to lift more if I hit the weights first.
 
This is a little odd to me. You need to revamp your entire routine. What kind of weight access do you have? You should be lifting weights for all parts of your body, not just a daily bench press. Running long distance (er, thats not long for some people but i think you know what i mean) isn't always good for fat loss, in fact, it tends to do little more than make your body more efficent at cardio - hence making the fat loss harder.

You might look at a set up like 3x a week full body weight training, 2x a week HIIT, and then a long distance run on the weekends if you are doing it for fun.

I have two 30lb dumbbells aside from my bench
 
i understand this all sounds a bit brutal but if your serious you need to invest in some new knowledge and equipment.

read round on full body routines and why people use them, read round on diet, protein, nutrition, meals etc, read round on why your doing all this and you'll soon know what you need to be doing.

also, you need to join a gym or at least buy some more equipment. a range of dumbells is essential, a variable bench and a pull up bar are the bare minumum you need.

in one way your at an advantage as you can get yourself started from scratch, doing it right. most people learn bit by bit, buying this and that and generally wasting money on things you dont need or use without any knowledge of why they have them

if all the above is too much and isnt how you want to spend hours a week, training, eating right etc, then just keep the cardio up and be fit and able to run. the generic hollywood body, however, takes a lot of time and effort but neednt be expensive IF you prepare well.

good luck, hope to see many more posts from you soon!
 
building mass is not really what im looking for..im benching just to better my pushups but my overall my goal is to lose 40 lbs within a year.

This is just a suggestion. You could begin a daily diary in the correct part of the forum. You could get nearly daily support from myself and other forum members. You name it what ever you wish. You can ask questions, input your diet, training routine on a regular basis. Other eyes can see this and provide valuable input.

I would then follow you, and then input some basic and fundelmental diet information along with some training ideas and methods (from personal experience), and we see how it goes.

For the time being, until you can afford to go to a gym or get better equipment, the best thing you can do, is work with what you have. This all one can do.
 
I wont be able to buy further equipment for about 3mos..anymore opinions on the order of my workouts?...cardio to weights...or weights to cardio?
 
Hey there,

I'm no expert, but I've heard that doing weights PRIOR to cardio is better, if only because you have more strength to do the weights before your cardio. HOWEVER, I do the opposite most of the time. LOL Not bc I'm trying to be a rebel, but because I just choose to do it that way. For example, here is what I do:

Sun - 4.5 mile run followed by full body weight routine
Mon - short 1.5 mile run
Tuesday 4.5 mile run
Wed - short 1.5 mi run followed by full body weights
Thurs - 4.5 mi run

But this is me. I'm sure the experts would be able to rip that apart, but I don't care. It's what works for me. Personally, I think it's better to stick with a certain routine if it works for you. You are more likely to stick with it if you like it, know what I mean?

GOOD LUCK!
 
But this is me. I'm sure the experts would be able to rip that apart, but I don't care. It's what works for me. Personally, I think it's better to stick with a certain routine if it works for you. You are more likely to stick with it if you like it, know what I mean?
GOOD LUCK!

and that's just it.. it works for you.. that's what matters! :)
 
Exactly. And that was my main point. As long as it works that's the important thing. He will be more apt to stick with something as long as he's comfortable with it and it works for him. That's why I do mine the way I do. :)
 
Hey there,

I'm no expert, but I've heard that doing weights PRIOR to cardio is better, if only because you have more strength to do the weights before your cardio. HOWEVER, I do the opposite most of the time. LOL Not bc I'm trying to be a rebel, but because I just choose to do it that way. For example, here is what I do:

Sun - 4.5 mile run followed by full body weight routine
Mon - short 1.5 mile run
Tuesday 4.5 mile run
Wed - short 1.5 mi run followed by full body weights
Thurs - 4.5 mi run

But this is me. I'm sure the experts would be able to rip that apart, but I don't care. It's what works for me. Personally, I think it's better to stick with a certain routine if it works for you. You are more likely to stick with it if you like it, know what I mean?

GOOD LUCK!

Agreed.

As others have said, the ' best ' routine is the one you LIKE doing and - therefore - works for you.:)
 
Wow! You mean, I know what I'm talking about for once?? :yelrotflmao:

Absolutley !:)

Your comment that " you are more likely to stick with it if you like it " is dead on.

It should be a motto that every newbie to training should take to heart - and not forget.
 
Yup. There's no point in focusing on some "perfect" routine if you don't like it.

To the op - in general, it is usually recommended to do cardio first, and save your energy for the more strenuous activity of strength training.

In your particular case, it won't really be an issue since you aren't really doing any strength training. So, for you it boils down to doing it in whatever order you prefer.

Although, if you are serious about reaching your goal of 40 lbs of wt loss, I would highly recommend doing some research to help with that. Strength training is about more than building mass, and is actually a wonderful tool in losing weight.
 
Okay, that's great and all, the whole do whatever you want concept. But let me ask you this, beth - what kind of results have you seen from all that long distance running? is running better one of your goals?

Most people who go out and do what the OP is doing and stick with it long term are not going to see their goals be reached. I also don't believe anyone should stick with one particular routine forever. I ALSO believe that EVERYONE is benefitted greatly in EVERY goal by weight training.

I have more stamina, I can increase mileage on a regular basis, I feel GREAT ABOUT myself when I do it. No, I'm not training for a marathon, as that is not one of my goals. I just want to stay active. MAYBE lose 5-10 pounds. Not to mention that during my short runs, I have started incorporating HIIT. Why do you feel the need to cut someone down like that? I LIKE what I do and do not need to get anyone's approval.

And yes, I do agree that you have to change the routine up after a while. I also change my routine up every 6 weeks or so. It kind of depends on what I'm working on at the time. And yes, weight training IS VERY important. But I think we have already established that.
 
I don't think she meant to cut you down Beth.

Sara can correct me if I'm way off base with what she did mean, but I think it's more along these lines...

It's important to do a routine that you like, if that means running instead of, say, bike riding, then run, because you are more likely to stick with something you like.

However, you also must keep your goals in mind, and how best to achieve that within the things you enjoy to do. If your goal is to focus on improving your speed/distance running, then it would be wise to run first when you still have the most energy to devote to it.

If your goal is something like weight loss, and/or gaining strength, then it would be wise to keep the majority of your strength for the weight lifting that will be more beneficial to weight loss and strength gains than the running will be.
 
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