Is cardio better on an empty stomach first thing in AM - and why?

[Mr. Cortisol]

I'm having a discussion with a gymmate about this and I think it's bad for the metabolism, and that you'd burn muscle first thing in the AM.

He says it's great cause it burns fat stores or seomthing.

Who is right?  Should you have breakfast before cardio?  Why/Why not?  thanks!

[wisconsinBB]

You're probably going to burn a little of both, but first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is really the best time to do cardio for fat burning purposes. 

[Mr. Cortisol]

You're probably going to burn a little of both, but first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is really the best time to do cardio for fat burning purposes. 

but why?

I'm using a PT for the first time, I'm ashamed to say.  I want to have some supports man.  thanks.

[Bluto]

google.com

type in

cardio morning empty stomach

opinions vary on this subject.

[Mr. Cortisol]

google.com

type in

cardio morning empty stomach

opinions vary on this subject.

hey thanks bro

[nder98]

hey thanks bro

From my experiances it worked the best on a empty stomach. The immeadiatly after, have a shake.

[wisconsinBB]

The theory is pretty basic.   The body will have no carbs to use for energy, so it will start burning fat (and some muscle) for energy.   It has worked very well in the past for me.  Its hard to get going, but when you're done, you usually feel pretty good.

[littleguns]

As staed..if there is food in your body, it will be used first...no food in your body....fat stores will be used (dependent on the length and type of activity)

I have asked all of the Pros on this board, Chic, Shawn, Milos, Lee and others...consensus.....

Low impact: IE treadmill 3.5-4 mph for 30-45 minutes, empty stomach

[Trev]

The theory is pretty basic.   The body will have no carbs to use for energy, so it will start burning fat (and some muscle) for energy.   It has worked very well in the past for me.  Its hard to get going, but when you're done, you usually feel pretty good.

BEST time to do cardio is just before you turn in for the night, your metabolism will stay up for several hours and you'll burn even more fat in your sleep - FACT.

[YoungBlood]

I hated empty stomach cardio!!! Not for how I felt or how tired I was.
The effect was horrible, burned a ton of muscle and less fat than muscle leaving a very stringy look.
I happen to think that it's best to do either after your weights (my preferred method) or after you eat a meal of some sort. If you really feel that it's best to do in the morning as you first wake up (or can't do it at any other time) have half a can of tuna and 5-10g of BCAA's, wait 20-30min and have at it.

 

[mwbbuilder]

More gym thoeries passed down from gym rat to gym rat.

Don't make sense but you get results anyway...just because you are doing something......but not for the reason you may think.

[wisconsinBB]

BEST time to do cardio is just before you turn in for the night, your metabolism will stay up for several hours and you'll burn even more fat in your sleep - FACT.

The leanest I've ever been was when I was actually doing this and first thing in the morning cardio. 

[HowieW]

You're probably going to burn a little of both, but first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is really the best time to do cardio for fat burning purposes. 

I did get leaner doing this but, feel it cost me some muscle size overall.
The theory is you get into the fat stores easier when on an empty stomach.
My experience and feeling on this, is to do cardio after a good workout (wts /bodypart)
This seems to be the best of all worlds.
The key is to do cardio when the blood sugar is LOW>
I am going to experiment with taking some amino tabs right after a body part workout BEFORE I do cardio.
Howard

[Bobby]

I think it burns muscle, but maybe if you do very low intensity it works better?

I do higher intensity cardio, in the middle of the day. Fast pace walking, throw in a couple of runs. I do cardio to increase my metabolism, not to burn fat directly. I don't do cardio on lifting days because that effect has already been achieved in the gym.

[No Patience]

I'm having a discussion with a gymmate about this and I think it's bad for the metabolism, and that you'd burn muscle first thing in the AM.

He says it's great cause it burns fat stores or seomthing.

Who is right?  Should you have breakfast before cardio?  Why/Why not?  thanks!

if you do first thing in the morning, sip on BCAA's while doing cardio....will help spare muscle tissue with an immediate amino supply, yet
give you no carbs to burn instead of fat

[TroubleReady39]

if you do first thing in the morning, sip on BCAA's while doing cardio....will help spare muscle tissue with an immediate amino supply, yet
give you no carbs to burn instead of fat

BCAAs - is that the orange syrup in the tall black containers from GNC?

[gtbro1]

 works much better with drugs (stimulants)

[candidizzle]

no no no no no no no


never ever take in proetein or amino acids while doing your "empty stomach cardio"

this is stupid!


cardio in the morning is either done on zero calories, or done on a few grams of fats.

if you give your body protien in the morning before doing cardio, and thats all you give it, your body will try to use that protein for energy...because your body will always use any available circul;ating energy sources before it will ever use itself for energy. prtoeins CAN be converted into energy. and when consumed before tcardio they WILL BE. amino acids are the same thing...they will be converted into energy for use. the only way they are "sparing muscle", is by giving your body something to use instead of muscle for a short period of time. but what happens when these sources of energy are gone? your body will start to use itself for nergy. but what cource will it use? well, if you just fed it protein,youir body will continue to use protein...your body wants to use whatever source of energy is easiest and best for itself.

BUT, if you supplement with a few grams of fats befor eyou morningc cardio...yoru body will break these fats down and use them for energy. once these fats are used up, then your body will move directly into fat stores for energy.

really, all you can do is PROMOTE a source of enrgy's use in your body. you cannot simply tell your body "dont use this!" by giving it some..("aminos protect muscle")..


and doing it on ZERO CALORIES will provide a mixture of fats and proteins as energy....the ratio fo the mixture can be tipped highly in the favor of fat use by keeping it very moderate in intensity, by consuming some zero calorie fat burners like green tea or caffiene or soemthing like that...     and l-carnitine is supposed to promote the oxidation of fat cells while not effecting the rate at which protein is mobilized for energy.

[WhiteCastle]

I never had nearly as much success in getting lean when I was doing the fasted AM cardio as I did when I was doing HIIT for less than half the time.  I'll never go back to AM cardio.

[local hero]

to the bloke who claimed it made him stringy,,,, u never had the muscle you thought u had in the 1st place, most people thing there much bigger than what they are, look in the mirror and say, i could compete if i were 20lbs lighter, where in fact it would take more near 50lbs !!!


cardio morning and pm if you wanna get realy ripped,,,

[gymguy]

Not an empty stomach.  Eat a little bit first.  For example, an apple or yogurt.  The small amount of food will trigger insulin release and you will burn more calories....

[Brutal_1]

Not an empty stomach.  Eat a little bit first.  For example, an apple or yogurt.  The small amount of food will trigger insulin release and you will burn more calories....

 

[wisconsinBB]

Not an empty stomach.  Eat a little bit first.  For example, an apple or yogurt.  The small amount of food will trigger insulin release and you will burn more calories....

Actually, I'm pretty sure triggering insulin release is the opposite of what you want to have happen when trying to burn fat.   Go back to biology class.  

[local hero]

got to agree,,, pretty stupid statement

[insidescoop]

Doing cardio first thing shows a complete lack of common sense....in the end, its calories burned vs calories consumed....a.m cardio is a myth.

has anyone here seen a calorie chart that claimed MORE calories were burned for the same activity in the morning vs in the afternoon....no.....

take an already depleted precontest bodybuilder doing cardio on an empty stomach first thing in the morning will make that individual CATABOLIC as fast as you can blink.  

Doing aerobics at such a time will force your body into even a brief "starvation" mode where it will burn muscle for both energy, and to conserve fat.  Your body doesnt know you are going into a show and only wish to lose fat!

It may not hurt a BB who is "enhanced", but it could destroya  natural one.

Think about it.

Dont believe the crap you read in the magazines