Too much?

[jayz89]

Hi

I am very new in week 2 second run- after I have done my run I do 30 minutes weights- last year I lost 6 stone and realised I am desperate to tone up. Am I doing too much and just concentrate on running?

[Phoenix891119 Graduate]

I'd love to know the answer to this. I've lost 5 stone in 50 weeks and am a real jelly belly! No time to tone at the gym when I run but I could do something at home. Any DVD style things people have used?

Sorry to hijack your post!! Well done on a 6 stone weight loss!!! I'm on Week 6 run 2 and loving it!

[jayz89 Graduate in reply to Phoenix891119]

well done for your great weight loss

Are you going to try weights? I am for my arms

[Phoenix891119 Graduate in reply to jayz89]

I would love to as I have some hand weights but I need something to follow really. I should do it at the gym but a) the times I can go the weight area is full of muscly men trying to outdo each other and skinny gymbunny girls who intimidate me!

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to Phoenix891119]

I just go and grunt and lift with the best of 'em. Headphones in and off you go - you have just as much right to be there.

Another good option if you're looking for videos is yoga, either a DVD or off the internet. Good for strength and flexibility and you can do it in the comfort of your own home (unless you have pets, and then they get very confused and involved in 'helping').

[Craftywomble]

Swimming! Great all over body toner!

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

As you progress muscles will come and the thing about running is they come in places other exercises don't reach. Most runners find the first positive thing that happens before weight lose is a change of shape (in a good way). If you can do both its fine but if you find your leg muscles are a bit sore through weights just decrease them a bit while you go through the program then ramp them up after you graduate. One of the best lessons to learn while going through the program is to listen to your own body. It has a very good way of telling you what suits you. If you learn that early on its half the battle of getting whole body fitness. Try keeping to both and see how you get on if you can't manage both you will only be cutting down for a few weeks and that shouldn't make that much difference to your over all fitness. Good luck.

[Rignold]

Yes and no.

There is nothing wrong with doing resistance exercise as well as cardio, and if weight loss is your goal, the combination will burn much more fat much quicker, and if getting 'toned' (Odin's Beard, how i hate that word!) is a priority then it is a necessity.

The volume of exercise itself is not excessive - I run, do an hour of Crossfit and 30 mins of kettlebell and 30 mins of mobility exercises 6 days a week - as long as you build up to to it. Moderate consistent exercise is a lot more sustainable in the long term. Perhaps do the weight work on the running rest days initially while your body gets used to the running.

You can and should be doing a basic mobility workout every day though - just simple squats, lunges, plank, calf raises, more squats etc. Again start with low reps and increase gradually. If you can't do the full exercise initially there are loads of online resources showing progressions you can follow and work up: the important thing is to learn proper form and for your muscles, joints etc to strengthen and adapt so you can stay strong and flexible and injury free for ever.

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Variety is the spice of life and weights are a good thing - I've been trying to incorporate them regularly for awhile. The one thing I do notice is that I have to watch how much leg work I do in the gym if I want to have a long run the next day as my legs will feel like lead weights.

[jayz89 Graduate]

Thanks for the replies- to be honest I have been going to the gym for the last 4 weeks and only discovered c25k 2 weeks ago- I am going 5 days a week and feel good not particularly achy but will take on board that I might need to curtail it as I get more into the programme

cheers rignold I will look into doing a basic mobility workout

Phoneix- who cares what people at the gym think- I just think I might be a bit fat but good for me going to the gym and doing something positive about it ha ha- the blokes are usually nice and help you anyway

[misswobble Graduate]

I do jillian michaels dvd's at home, which use weights, and all sorts of exercises to get fitter, yoga, plyo, pilates moves etc, even some boxing moves. I want to tone up as I have lost quite a bit of weight and my middle needed tightening up. With running, walking and my exercises I feel I am making progress.

Just stick at it

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

Don't know if I would use weights on the legs after running. Maybe not when you're getting used to running, perhaps on the rest days.