Too late to add in cardio?

[FitBlonde]

My DH and I plan to start TTC in 3-4 weeks. My husband, son and I go for a walk at night 2-3x a week. Should I start doing the intense cardio or is it too late? I still have a few lbs to lose (5'4 140lbs). Thank you!

[atomic sagebrush]

I used to think it was better to hold off but now since exercise has gotten such great and consistent results, I think you should go for it.

It doesn't have to be Olympic levels of intensity, walking is fine as long as it goes 60 min. consecutively and hopefully 6-7 days a week (altho we are getting good results with only 4)

[FitBlonde]

Thank you. I'm a personal trainer so am used to working out 5 days per week (with weights) so I can easily change to cardio.

[atomic sagebrush]

Ok since you're very fit, you may actually NEED to use some very light weights like 1-2 lbs to get your heart rate up. That is ok as long as you're on diet. We have found that some people who are in really good shape do need to use very light weights while doing cardio or else it just doesn't feel like you're doing anything. :)

[FitBlonde]

Eek AF showed early today so our attempt will be in 2 weeks. Is it still too late to add cardio?

[feetje]

Atomic do you know how high the heart frequency needs to be during excersise? Thank you!


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[atomic sagebrush]

Eek AF showed early today so our attempt will be in 2 weeks. Is it still too late to add cardio?

HOw long have you been on diet???

My concern is less with the amount of time on cardio but more that you've been actually lifting weights up until now. If you've been dieting this whole time that is probably not a dealbreaker because you won't be maintaining muscle on LE Diet, BUT if you haven't been dieting and haven't been doing cardio and have been doing weights I think it may be better to wait one more month.

The diet and exercise work together and it is certainly possible to get girls even when weight training if you're eating a lower protein diet and are overtraining - but I want to optimize your chances and not just rest on our laurels that it will probably be ok, yk??

[FitBlonde]

Over the past 3 months we have been on vacation so I have been eating LE for that time. We got back 3 weeks ago. I ate HE for 2 weeks once we got back and started back on LE this week. So my diet has even mainly LE.

I didn't do weight training while on vacation (only hiking) and only did one week of weights once we got home. The second week home I had the flu and I haven't done weights this past week, only a bit of cardio. I have lost around 5lbs of vacation weight but want to lose a bit more.

With cardio I keep my heart rate above 140bpm.

[atomic sagebrush]

Atomic do you know how high the heart frequency needs to be during excersise? Thank you!


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I don't want you guys to worry about heart rate. It's just another number to track and obsess over and the more detail oriented and control-freak-y you get, that may actually inadvertently sway blue. just do exercise that gets you up and moving for 60 min, 6-7 days a week, and all is good. The only reason I mention it for the original poster is because she works out already and swicthing to just cardio for her may not be challenging enough.

[atomic sagebrush]

FitBlonde, being on diet for 3 months even with a couple off months in that means you can forgive yourself on the exercise a lot sooner because there's just no way you could be building muscle on LE Diet.

[feetje]

I don't want you guys to worry about heart rate. It's just another number to track and obsess over and the more detail oriented and control-freak-y you get, that may actually inadvertently sway blue. just do exercise that gets you up and moving for 60 min, 6-7 days a week, and all is good. The only reason I mention it for the original poster is because she works out already and swicthing to just cardio for her may not be challenging enough.

Thanks a lot Atomic! Also for al the great and useful information on the site!
I do running for 5-6 times a week and now I don't track my hart rate as you advised. I did loose some weight (6 lbs), but I also notice that my legs are pretty muscular still. I'm on the diet for 5 weeks and do the 5-6 times a week running now for 3 weeks (before that I was running 2-3 times a week for 1 hour). My ovulation is coming up next week. My boyfriend is pushing a bit to try to conceive when this egg is coming. Do you think it's too early to do a attempt?

[atomic sagebrush]

If you're losing weight on a lower protein diet, then there is no way you're adding muscle. It's pretty hard for women to build muscle under the best circumstances and impossible while losing weight/eating less protein. When you start exercising sometimes you lose body fat and it makes your body LOOK more musclular but it's only because the fat on top is gone.

We have gotten best results with 12 weeks on diet, but I think 6 is ok. It's up to you -if you want the absolute best chance you would wait, but you can absolutely still get a girl with 6 weeks on diet.

[feetje]

Thanks a lot Atomic for your advise!!! I'll try to convince my boyfriend to wait for another month.