Bit of advice chaps

Im currently getting myself back into shape and I'm going to the gym 5 days a week.

3 days of weights, mainly compound lifts with some gun work thrown in
2 days of cardio interval training.

In your experience is this too much? Am i giving my body enough time to recover?

From my experience, and I'm only an amatuer, doing cardio on rest days makes my next weights session suffer, so I effectively cut it out almost. You could try 15 minutes cardio (HIIT) immediately after a weights session and add 1 minute each time (Stronglifts method) or skip the cardio and focus on increasing your lifting session on session and once you reach a 'heavy' weight for you, you will be getting sufficient cardiovascular workout. Then once you feel comfortable, add some cardio.

But again it really depends on your aims? Dropping body fat? Increasing strength? Increasing muscle mass?

Thanks for the advice!

I always thought that weights would increase the metabolism and burn fat, i might be wrong.

Aims is to increase muscle mass and lose a little bit of alcohol fat around the midrift.

I'll give your advice a try and see how i get on!

Thanks again!

Weights will increase metabolism, but if you want to gain muscle mass you'll have to increase you calorie intake over your need and by doing so you're also going to be gaining a little body fat - how much depends on what you eat and how much of it. Once you've increased your muscle mass, body fat will be easier to reduce.

Hi Interceptor

No, it's not too much. I train on average 5 days per week...3 nights of weights, 2 nights of boxing (sparring, circuits etc).

I find it to be a good mix, and the weight training helps me maintain my current size. I've suffered no ill effects in doing this for the past year, so you should be fine. Eat well, and you'll notice the difference.

Get rid of the cardio...like Mike Mentzer said..."It takes up good recovery time and a good workout is just as good for the metabolism and burning calories.."

The risk of getting cardio vascular disease or type 2 diabetes dramatically drops if you partake in cardio vascular exercise.
The same can be said of weight training, but only to half the effect.
Obviously depends on the intensity of the workout, loads of clinical trials to back this up.

red wine is good for you....red wine is bad for you...

Not interested in clinical trials....

A glass is good, no more.

I think giving the heart a workout is essential if your aim is to be fit strong and healthy.
However, if your aim is to appear masculine to your peers, then cardio hasn't got a large part to play in that, in which case its all about the weights.