Where to begin?

AMJ6511

I'm trying to lose baby weight and have done a great job so far with just counting calories. I really want to be more fit and toned, but I'm at a loss of where to begin. I don't know how many cardio sessions I'm supposed to get per week or how many strength training days. Any advice? TIA! 

jkelly41

Strength train three days a week. You could layer in 3-5 days of cardio on top of it, but if you strength train correctly, you won't have to bust your rear on the treadmill to get results  I'm a personal trainer but I work out at home since I work full time and have two little ones.  I do DVDs mostly and switch it up with different weight exercises I write out myself for variety.  

I've one Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, P90X, Turbo Fire, Insanity, Les Mill's COMBAT, and other random programs.  

Hope this helps!  

AMJ6511

Thanks! How do you split up strength training? Do you do upper and lower on the same day? Or what?

jkelly41

Mostly, yes.  Shoulders/arms, then legs, then back on day 3.  Depending on what program I'm doing, day three will be full body if I'm concentrating on endurance and not building muscle.

AMJ6511

Is one day enough strength training per area? Like, is arm/shoulder one day a week enough? 

jkelly41

Lift heavy enough (for you) and yes, it is.  Do at least three sets of 10-15 reps of each exercise.

LiveNLove44

It all depends on your experience level with resistance training for how you do your splits. I have been weight training for almost ten years now and do splits like this: back and biceps, shoulders and triceps, chest and core, legs, all layered with cardio days. When I'm not pregnant, I do two days a week of HIIT on a treadmill and another day of steady-state cardio. I highly recommend signing up with a personal trainer or working out with someone who knows lifts. It's really important that you maximize the benefits of resistance training by doing it correctly. Best of luck!