Cheerleading And Bodybuilding At The Same Time?

[Franziska]

Hi everyone,

I've been a cheerleader and a coach for several years now. There were times when I couldn't do any cheerleading due to different reasons. So I tried to find another hobby. I started lifting weights and liked it. Now that I have a new team I'm having a hard time sticking to the weight lifting. Not because I don't want to but because both sports are so intense. I am sore after every cheerleading practice and lifting weights a day later just makes it worse. If I take a day off and lift before the next day of cheerleading practice I know that I won't have enough power at that next cheerleading practice because my body is so exhausted from lifting.

Another problem for me is to increase muscle and flexibility at the same time. It seems like achieving both is almost impossible.

Anyone any help?

Please feel free to comment even if you're not a cheerleader !

Thanks a lot.

[Franziska]

Oh, I forgot to say that I gained a little weight over the last 2 years because of not eating clean and working out unregularly. That's why I also want to stick to weight lifting. The goal is to lose weight and still be a good cheerleader.

[Chris@UGA]

:edit: I should read your whole post before responding.

If you feel you're getting enough exercise in your legs from cheerleading then you could always just do upper body exercises. Maybe, target the muscles you don't use during cheerleading and hit them with weights so you stay balanced?