I was 275 lbs and dropped to 245 by pretty much not eating due to extreme stress. I then started to work out doing cardio about 40 to 80 minutes a day and this let me drop to 230. I still am doing the cardio but at the advice of Cha I started to do the SS stuff as well. I have never been any type of lifter or athlete. I started doing the workouts as something to eat up time in my day and as an outlet for the anger or whatever I was feeling. So I never really had goals going into this other than the release it gave me. I joined Snap because it is 2 blocks from my house and nothing else is anywhere close. I also do a good share of my workouts in hotel fitness centers. So my goals now are simple.
1. Not be a fat slob.
2. Look and feel good about myself

I am reposting that from Cha's log. I have done cardio of some sort for everyday for the last month. I also travel a lot and have been watching what I eat. I mean I don't eat fast food and try to balance out my meals into a somewhat more healthy manner.

Did you lift last night?

No I didn't. I was short on time and the room was busy so I just did a higher intensity cardio workout. I was thinking I will start the lifting over again on Monday and do it in a more proper way this time.

sounds good

What's your take on rest days from cardio?

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My take on rest days is 1 a week. Mentally you are SUUUPER motivated right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if you're running your body into the ground. Since your goals aren't super specific, not ever taking a rest day can work, you'll just likely have crappier and crappier workouts b/c your body isn't resting enough.

I agree mostly with Yugo on rest - 1 day a week should be good in general.

More specifically, if you feel fresh every day and want to do more of it, go for it imo. On the other side of that - if you need 2 - 3 days off a week, do that. Listen to what your body is telling you.

Being able to actually do this well imo requires much more experience over time with exercising and one's body. This is also why I think my kinesthetic awareness while lifting sucks donkey balls right now. Our chiro mentioned that I likely need more time. Probably hundreds of reps to know what "normal" and the slight differences from that feel like.

Which is also why he said the guy he has do ART on him is "not great" and his explanation is 'well, he has only done it for a couple years." ART requires feel and experience b/c getting better at I'd imagine has 100% to do with very subtle differences, not just learning more about it.

So - from what you're saying cleinen, I'd say 1 rest day per week, but yeah, if you need more take it. But it's good to be a bit careful to make sure that doesn't turn into laziness and 7 days off per week.

Good points.

Last time I talked to Dr K about that, he wasn't having anyone do ART on him. He must have started doing that recently.

I just don't remember the last day I didn't have some level of soreness

Welcome to middle age

25 minutes of cardio today

I did 45 min of a higher intensity cardio workout today

Gettin' after it imo. I wanna hear of some lifting though soon .

Starting on monday again

And another boring 45 min of cardio

Weights are more fun & more effective than cardio imo.

Effective at what?

Agreed they are more fun. Unless I'm playing basketball, .

at doing positive things for your body

Maybe - but it's not a fair contest if by cardio we're talking about 45 minutes indoors on a gerbal wheel. I love cardio workouts but I can't stand more than 15 or 20 minutes on a machine.

Cleinen, how have you been able to lose all that weight with all the homebrewing you do?

I've actually taken a small break from my own brewing, and have even passed off to friends a few kegs I had in process in order to stay away from drinking too much while I get back in shape.

Good luck with your diet/exercise plan.

Stuff like basketball & maybe hiking/climbing might be fun too. I was comparing lifting to gerbil wheel type stuff, as far as fun goes.

Another 40 min on the wheel. I like the cardio because it makes me sweat a lot and I feel like I am really doing something. I know this all may be false but it provides a sense of motivation and accomplishment right now.

Its good to move your body.

It's not false at all man it's really good for you.

There is truth in that lifting weights will burn more calories in the same amount of exercise time as cardio since lifting also raises your metabolic rate more than cardio. But that doesn't mean cardio is not good for you.

Plus you can do a ton more cardio that lifting if you're into outdoor sports like hiking, x-country skiing, or trail running. You can do those things for hours and hours and burn tons of calories.

I just have a hard time staying on machines inside for very long - although in the winter or if it's pouring out I do use the machines and I've used them extensively in the past as well.

Anyway, you can do lifting or cardio or some of both. It really depends on your goals and what you enjoy.

Right now I have no problem being on a machine for 40 to 80 minutes a day.