Cardio and strength training are two different forms of exercise. Cardio is aerobic exercise, which means it uses oxygen to give your body energy. Strength training builds muscles by using weights or machines that require more than one muscle group to work together. It's important not to mix these two types of workouts if you're trying to lose weight or build lean muscle mass because doing so can cause injury or burnout. However, if you follow these tips for mixing cardio and strength training safely, you'll get the best results from each workout and be able to stick with an exercise routine for years—not just weeks!
Set a goal.
As you set your goals, think about what you want to improve. For example:
- Do you have trouble keeping up with the treadmill? How can you work on that?
- Are your strength training sets too easy for the first few reps and then too hard for the final few? Can you adjust them so they feel more even throughout?
- Are there days when it feels like all of your energy has been drained by an intense cardio session, leaving little left over for lifting weights or doing other types of exercise later in the day (or even later on that same day)?
Listen to your body.
The key to mixing cardio and strength training is listening to your body.
Listen to it when it tells you to rest. Listen to it when it tells you that you need a break, or that today's workout was too intense and tomorrow should be less so. Your body knows what works best for YOU, so listen closely!
The only way to know how much weight or time on the treadmill will give you results is by trial and error--or as coaches call it "progression". By steadily increasing intensity over time (and decreasing rest) while continuing with good nutrition habits and proper form in each exercise session, progress will be made towards reaching any goal set by yourself or others around us.
It's okay to be sore.
The first time you do strength training, you may be sore the next day. This is normal and a sign that your body is adapting to its new routine. If the soreness becomes too much to bear, take a rest day before continuing with your workout plan.
Over time, however, your muscles will become more accustomed to being used in this way and will not be as sore after each session. However, if you are not experiencing any muscle soreness at all when starting out then something might be wrong with how heavy or intense of an exercise routine you are doing - either way, it's important not to skip out on rest days!
Don't skip rest days.
Rest days are important. They allow muscles to repair and grow, which in turn helps prevent injuries. Rest also prevents overtraining and allows you to train with maximum intensity during your workouts.
The best way to determine how many rest days you need is by listening to your body. If you're feeling fatigued or sore after a workout, take some time off from exercising until those symptoms go away before returning back into the gym with renewed energy. You should also allow yourself at least one day off per week so that all of those hard-earned gains don't disappear during an unplanned hiatus from exercise!
Mix it up.
Mixing up your exercise routine is important. If you do the same exercises every day, your body will get used to the movements and won't have to work as hard. This can lead to injuries when performing the same motions repeatedly.
To get the most benefit from a workout, try alternating between different types of cardio and strength training on different days:
- For example, one day could be focused on weight training with an emphasis on muscle building; another could focus on high-intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT workouts involve short bursts of intense activity followed by brief periods of rest; they help improve cardiovascular fitness while also building muscle mass in less time than traditional steady-state cardio sessions would take!
Rest and recovery are important, too.
Rest and recovery are also important.
Rest days are a must for both your body and mind. You need to give yourself time to recover from the stress of training, but also from everyday life. Resting will help you avoid injuries, improve performance and prevent overtraining syndrome. If you don't rest enough, it can be difficult for you to reach your goals because of injury or burnout.
Recovery doesn't just mean getting enough sleep--it means reducing stress in other areas as well. For example: if you're stressed out about work or family issues, those feelings will affect how well (or not) your body recovers from exercise sessions! So make sure that you have time each day where no one else is demanding attention from you--even if it's only 15 minutes--to relax before diving into another round of cardio or strength training exercises!
Takeaway:
- Rest and recovery.
- Listen to your body.
- Set a goal before starting.
- Mix up your routine, but don't forget to rest on off days!
Conclusion
In the end, mixing up your workout routine can be a great way to keep things fresh and keep yourself motivated. The key is knowing your body and listening to it, so you can find what works best for you. If you're feeling sore after doing cardio for a few days in a row then maybe try adding some strength training into your routine or vice versa!
