Running and squatting

[SDS]

Need some input.....I don't want to cut back on the calories yet, but I'd like to start trying to lose some fat by running (working into HIT/sprints). I'm squatting on Tuesday and Friday, and I'm not sure how to work the running in. Basically I'm curious about what days NOT to run.

[ZenMonkey]

Any day would probably be fine except the day before you squat. Besides that, you will have to gauge your own recovery and troubleshoot from there.

[SDS]

That's kinda what I figured except I was thinking not run the day after squatting....because it'd be a recovery period. You're saying that running requires a recovery period similar to lifting? I would have thought a good nap after running and I'd be good to go.

[Off Road]

Zen is right...do it after your squats. The running will deplete your energy and impact your leg strength. A simple nap might make you feel refreshed, but that doesn't mean you are recuperated.

[ZenMonkey]

The day after is probably alright. Thats when i do my running and plyo work... but then again, I only lift 2x a week, so I generally have gobs of recovery before my next session. You are going to have to experiment.

[left hook]

I run 3 times a week now getting ready for police academy next january and one of those mornings I run then squat later that night around 9pm and I haven't noticed any effect or loss in strength yet.

[tdotteg]

I Squat mon wed and fri I do HIIT right after my squats and i'm fine.

[ThomasG]

I do not recommend HIT sprinting the day after squatting. I see tues and fri as your squatting day. Is that ME and DE?

If I sprint the day after my ME day my legs take too long to recover for my next session. I sprint on MY DE days. I train 4 days a week.

[Y2A]

Depends on what type of running, if it's a jog it won't matter, but sprints can take a lot out of you, so I would agree with those who say not to sprint before squatting.

[SDS]

O.K., so I finally got around to getting started running. It's not that bad.......I actually think I might enjoy it. I live in a very rural area, and there's a 5 acre (approximate) field right behind my house. 1 lap around the field is around .75 miles. So far it hasn't affected my lifting. From what I've read I need to shoot for an average sustained heart rate of 120bpm for 20 minutes.......am I correct? I don't see building up to that being a problem at all.

[hairyback40k]

Sprinting or intense running WILL affect your squats in my experience. Gentle running will not.

You cannot get away from fatigue, and it isn't something you can accurately gauge. Anything outside of squatting has the potential to affect squatting, but again I can say for certain that hard running does affect squatting.

EDIT: Everyone else who said sprinting beat me to it.

[mike mcgee]

It is hard for me to answer your question because I am not sure if just adding some running/ sprinting to your routine is going to help you lose fat. I ran for years in the military and carried my gut every step of the way. The only true way to lose is adjust your diet. You don’t have to cut calories per se, but you might have to relook at how you are getting them.

What does your diet consist of? How much fat are you trying to lose? There are some pretty knowledgeable guys on this forum. I would suggest you reword your question to: I am trying to lose xx pounds of fat without compromising calories. I would include an example of a day’s worth of meals and let these guys evaluate it.

Good Luck.

[one rep under]

If you're just looking to lose some fat then complexes may be the way to go. If not then keep experimenting with the running.

[ZenMonkey]

I also would like to mention to really take care of your hip flexors if you begin sprinting.

[Sheppy]

I also would like to mention to really take care of your hip flexors if you begin sprinting.

What do u mean by that?

[ZenMonkey]

I mean foam roll and stretch them 1-2x daily

[fixationdarknes]

^ How exactly do you utilize the foam roll properly? I keep hearing how foam roll is such a crucial thing but I'm not really sure what are the best stretches or things to do with it, or why it can help me do things I can't do without a foam roll. Thanks.

[ZenMonkey]

Youtube and google foam rolling hip flexors and stretching hip flexors. Then... go foam roll and follow it with stretching.

[fixationdarknes]

Alright thanks. I've definitely noticed my hip flexors feeling pretty rocked after my deadlifts and sprints.

Also, how do you feel about sprinting on the day of your Squats or Deadlifts (after the lifting of course)? I feel pretty rocked the day after squats or deads, but I'm thinking the day of might be okay. Haven't really tried yet though.

[J.C.]

I know I'm late to the party but I would strongly advise running the day BEFORE squats, and not after.

When I started running last year that was the only way I could do it. Heavy squats will always leave you feeling a bit sore and wasted, but you can go for a 40min run and not feel too bad. You might feel tired but if you stretch lots and eat enough you'll recover quickly. Its not as intense a stress as weightlifting and doesn't require as much recovery. This is why endurance athletes can train so frequently, whereas lifters will train relatively infrequently (ignoring world class olympic weightlifters who squat 14 times a week). Weight training causes more damage to the muscles and if you want a rest day it should be following that.

The easy way is just to go try it. Go for a run, cool down properly, then attempt a squat session the next day. You won't feel a difference. Try going for a run the day after a heavy squat session, and you're legs will feel weak and be killing you.

You can mess around with your programme and increase your ability to cope with the new stress, but generally speaking you will be much better off running the day before not after.

[fixationdarknes]

I know I'm late to the party but I would strongly advise running the day BEFORE squats, and not after.

When I started running last year that was the only way I could do it. Heavy squats will always leave you feeling a bit sore and wasted, but you can go for a 40min run and not feel too bad. You might feel tired but if you stretch lots and eat enough you'll recover quickly. Its not as intense a stress as weightlifting and doesn't require as much recovery. This is why endurance athletes can train so frequently, whereas lifters will train relatively infrequently (ignoring world class olympic weightlifters who squat 14 times a week). Weight training causes more damage to the muscles and if you want a rest day it should be following that.

The easy way is just to go try it. Go for a run, cool down properly, then attempt a squat session the next day. You won't feel a difference. Try going for a run the day after a heavy squat session, and you're legs will feel weak and be killing you.

You can mess around with your programme and increase your ability to cope with the new stress, but generally speaking you will be much better off running the day before not after.

I do reckon that "running" the day before squats would be fine, but the OP questioned high intensity sprints, which is what I'm also wondering about myself. Surely doing sprints would be more neurally draining and fatiguing in a weightlifting recovery standpoint than "doing a 40 minute run" would be.

[J.C.]

Ah, good point.

I still reckon that sprints will be less stressful than weight-training, but I generally run 20-60min so we're dealing with different activities.

[fixationdarknes]

Youtube and google foam rolling hip flexors and stretching hip flexors. Then... go foam roll and follow it with stretching.

So watching this video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nAwlsctqBs what exactly does foam rolling the hip flexor do? I have been doing the kneeling hip flexor stretch daily for the past month or two, but don't understand why the foam roll is so important. You're not actually stretching on the foam roller, just rolling back and forth on the hip flexor? Why does that help?

[ZenMonkey]

http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[fixationdarknes]

Should I get a high density foam roller? Is 18" length long enough? I read that high density last the longest and will give the deepest massage. Just want to be sure before purchasing though which you guys recommend for tight hip flexors and what not.