Working out question

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
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So, obviously if you worked out before and have muscle, it is a lot easier to get "back in shape" after having not worked the muscles for a while than if you were starting from scratch.

What about being in shape with cardio?

Last summer, I would come back from work, run 3 miles and lift weights. I had to work myself up to 3 miles. In the end, 3 miles was still hard but doable. 1 mile was nothing.

So now that I have been at school, my time for cardio went down drastically. When I start up again, will I be starting from square one? Or, like muscle training, will is be easier to obtain my previous level of fitness(3 miles)?

Thanks for any help!
 

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
I think running is different than other cardio. If you were running regularly before, I think you will have an easier time picking it up again. There are a lot of muscles and other physical things unrelated to endurance that make running hard to newcomers.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,755
20,327
146
use it or lose it, standard across the board. if you haven't done cardio since then, it will be hard no matter what you do.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
It will be tough because you are starting over, but yes, people who train in cardio have a similar "muscle memory" phenomenon. You will be able to get back to 3 miles within a few weeks.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
Originally posted by: edro
It will be tough because you are starting over, but yes, people who train in cardio have a similar "muscle memory" phenomenon. You will be able to get back to 3 miles within a few weeks.
Yep....but the first week or two will be pretty painful. Once you get over the curve, you need to stick with it a while until your oxygen transport in your blood builds back up to fuel your muscles... This is what will keep you going and things won't get easier until you do it no matter how strong your leg muscles are.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,376
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I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
Originally posted by: Amused
Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.
Word. When I have a few weeks off from soccer between sessions, the first game back is killer.

 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
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Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,376
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Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.

Possibly. It depends on how young you are and how active you have been otherwise.

You wont know until you start. But for the first week at least I would try a run/walk routine.
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
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Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.

Possibly. It depends on how young you are and how active you have been otherwise.

You wont know until you start. But for the first week at least I would try a run/walk routine.

I was planning on running 2 laps...walking 1 then repeating for a good amount of time. What do you think?
 

KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
3,691
68
91
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
So, obviously if you worked out before and have muscle, it is a lot easier to get "back in shape" after having not worked the muscles for a while than if you were starting from scratch.

What about being in shape with cardio?

Last summer, I would come back from work, run 3 miles and lift weights. I had to work myself up to 3 miles. In the end, 3 miles was still hard but doable. 1 mile was nothing.

So now that I have been at school, my time for cardio went down drastically. When I start up again, will I be starting from square one? Or, like muscle training, will is be easier to obtain my previous level of fitness(3 miles)?

Thanks for any help!

I did the EXACT same thing you described - worked out last summer and by the end 3 miles wasn't too bad and 1 mile was really easy. I haven't been able to work out at all at school. A month ago I tried running again... I could BARELY make a mile. However, you can probably work yourself back to 3 miles much more quickly than you did over the summer.

 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,376
19,619
146
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.

Possibly. It depends on how young you are and how active you have been otherwise.

You wont know until you start. But for the first week at least I would try a run/walk routine.

I was planning on running 2 laps...walking 1 then repeating for a good amount of time. What do you think?

How far is a lap?
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
0
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.

Possibly. It depends on how young you are and how active you have been otherwise.

You wont know until you start. But for the first week at least I would try a run/walk routine.

I was planning on running 2 laps...walking 1 then repeating for a good amount of time. What do you think?

How far is a lap?

standard 1/4 mile
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,376
19,619
146
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.

Possibly. It depends on how young you are and how active you have been otherwise.

You wont know until you start. But for the first week at least I would try a run/walk routine.

I was planning on running 2 laps...walking 1 then repeating for a good amount of time. What do you think?

How far is a lap?

standard 1/4 mile

I'd do the first week altenating one lap each (running/walking for 6-8 laps. If for anything else to get your shin muscles time to strengthen.

You'll do no harm taking it slower than you can, but you will do signifigant harm pushing yourself harder than you should.

Anyhow, either way, you'll be back up to three miles a day in very little time.
 

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
0
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Originally posted by: Amused
I would be smart and ease your way back into it using an accelerated run/walk program.

And yes, you do lose it. Even a couple months away from regular cardio will significantly lower your stamina and performance.

not saying that I could jump back in. I was just asking if I would get back to the same place faster than before I had ran everyday.

Possibly. It depends on how young you are and how active you have been otherwise.

You wont know until you start. But for the first week at least I would try a run/walk routine.

I was planning on running 2 laps...walking 1 then repeating for a good amount of time. What do you think?

How far is a lap?

standard 1/4 mile

I'd do the first week altenating one lap each (running/walking for 6-8 laps. If for anything else to get your shin muscles time to strengthen.

You'll do no harm taking it slower than you can, but you will do signifigant harm pushing yourself harder than you should.

Anyhow, either way, you'll be back up to three miles a day in very little time.

maybe you can answer this for me. After running 3 miles for a while, one day during the summer all of a sudden I couldn't run without a weird feeling in my legs. Whenever I did ran with a little speed I felt this. Kinda a feeling like your legs want to give out. This stayed for a few weeks. Any idea?
 

zanieladie

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2003
3,280
1
0
I know that when I miss my exercize routine even for just a couple of days, it's hard on my muscles when I do start back.