I used to be really into fitness, mainly lifting... i pretty much took the past year off in pursuit of other interests, mainly the outdoors, but im starting to get back into fitness... im having a hard time getting back to where i used to be but im getting there slowly... just looking for a place to get a little advice along the way...
Right now im going to the gym on average 3-4 times a week, usually about 1 1/2hrs per session... a mix of cardio and lifting... My lifting routine is a combination of free weights, circuit and cable... though it tends to be heavy on the basics- curls, pushups, situps, bench, leg press, rowing, etc... As for cardio... about 2 years ago i could run a mile in just under 8 minutes. Today i cant even run a mile without cramping up... this seems to be my biggest problem area... trying to get my mile time back under 8 minutes, but i seem to get alot of cramping around 4 minutes... both in the legs and a burning in my chest... Ive had a physical in the past year with an EKG and all was well... so im thinking the burning in the chest i get when i run is either some sort of sports induced asthma or acid reflux getting kicked up by running (im leaning towards the later, as the ONLY time it happens is when running or jogging briskly. Any other strenous activity, im fine)
I guess im what youd call a hard gainer... im 24, just about 5'7 and 145lbs. This is fairly optimum height/weight for my body type...id like to try and stay around there. It takes a TON of lifting for me to see any results, and ALOT of eating/supplements as well to build mass... Its tough... if i eat too little, i burn it all off in the gym... too much, and i suffer when it comes time to do cardio. My diet is usually pretty heavy on protein- be it fish or red meat. Likewise, too much cardio and i burn off any muslce i might have built during lifting, but too little, and i end up in the boat im in now... having a brutal time even finishing a mile jog.
I guess im just looking for advice as far as how i can slowly build up my cardio endurance... and also some input as far as diet...
Right now im going to the gym on average 3-4 times a week, usually about 1 1/2hrs per session... a mix of cardio and lifting... My lifting routine is a combination of free weights, circuit and cable... though it tends to be heavy on the basics- curls, pushups, situps, bench, leg press, rowing, etc... As for cardio... about 2 years ago i could run a mile in just under 8 minutes. Today i cant even run a mile without cramping up... this seems to be my biggest problem area... trying to get my mile time back under 8 minutes, but i seem to get alot of cramping around 4 minutes... both in the legs and a burning in my chest... Ive had a physical in the past year with an EKG and all was well... so im thinking the burning in the chest i get when i run is either some sort of sports induced asthma or acid reflux getting kicked up by running (im leaning towards the later, as the ONLY time it happens is when running or jogging briskly. Any other strenous activity, im fine)
I guess im what youd call a hard gainer... im 24, just about 5'7 and 145lbs. This is fairly optimum height/weight for my body type...id like to try and stay around there. It takes a TON of lifting for me to see any results, and ALOT of eating/supplements as well to build mass... Its tough... if i eat too little, i burn it all off in the gym... too much, and i suffer when it comes time to do cardio. My diet is usually pretty heavy on protein- be it fish or red meat. Likewise, too much cardio and i burn off any muslce i might have built during lifting, but too little, and i end up in the boat im in now... having a brutal time even finishing a mile jog.
I guess im just looking for advice as far as how i can slowly build up my cardio endurance... and also some input as far as diet...