Too much cardio- i've hit a plateau?

Question

I work out on the elliptical 5-6 days a week for an hour and fifty minutes a day. i also do strength training with small weights and squats, situps, pushups etc at home. i wonder if i'm doing too much cardio, i've been struggling with the last 5 pounds i'd like to lose.

Answer 1

Yes, you have been doing a bit too much cardio ... but that's not why you have hit this 'plateau' ... it's because you are building good 'solid muscle' instead of just taking off the fat, and you have very little 'fat' left to lose ... but if you could 'change your exercise routines' and add some 'lengthening' exercises, like running, stretching, and even some yoga, you may get 'over' that last 5 pounds you'd like to lose ... and even better, by doing those 'lengthening' exercises, your 'muscles' won't 'bulk out' and make you look 'fat' ... so you'll be 'slimmer and trimmer' as you continue to GET IN SHAPE FULLY.

Answer 2

I thought you meant you hit a cardio strength plateau, this is easy. Unless you have some kind of race or something why are you going for an hour and fifty minutes and why are you on an elliptical. That will give you absolutely no real world applicable strength. Get on the treadmill and don't go over three miles unless you can handle three miles on full incline and full speed. Try some hill or stair sprints, then do three mile runs, or bike. Mix up your routines and get off the elliptical. Unless you are training specifically for endurance you needn't go over twenty minutes. When you weight train do not use small weights and do sissy barbell curls ,Use heavier weights and do compound exercises. You will not get big ,believe me. But you will get strength and toned.Doing body weight exercises are good but if your looking to lose five pounds you shouldn't be taking a break between the sets. Same goes for the weights if weight loss is your goal. Look up "circuit training". I may be presomptious but it sounds to me that you may be lacking intensity in your workouts. They should be grueling process that makes you feel like you really conquered something when your done. Also, how much attention do you pay to your diet?

Answer 3

You are doing too much cardio. Going over an hour for cardio just burns muscle. How many times a week are you doing weights? You should do weights at least 3 times a week along with cardio. Start with 30 minutes of cardio and then do weights for at least 30 minutes. You need to change up your routine once in a while so that your body doesn't get use to doing the same thing. Hope this helps

Answer 4

Are you monitoring inches and not just pounds? Muscle weigs more than fat, so you may look different, but the scale is the same.

You aren't doing too much cardio, if anything, increase the intensity of the cardio you are doing to burn more calories.

Answer 5

if you've been following the same exercise routine for several months, your body can be in a rut. to get off that plateau, change your workout or eating habits. the last 5 or 10 pounds are always the hardest.