Cardio Q

[Eyeball Chambers]

Currently I'm doing a three day split (Mon Wed Fri), I'm doing 30 minutes of cardio on weight days and 60 minutes on off days. Excluding Saturday, and Sunday.

Would it hurt to do 60 minutes everyday of the week?

I've lost about 14 pounds and am as strong as ever (even stronger on chest and legs).

 

Thanks!

[andreisdaman]

I'm no expert, but I would say no......you don't want to overdo it and either burn out or lose muscle....stick to what you are doing...it's obviously working for you.....don't do more hoping it will work even more....that's a mistake we all make....you say that you feel good...then you are doing the right thing....

[Eyeball Chambers]

I'm no expert, but I would say no......you don't want to overdo it and either burn out or lose muscle....stick to what you are doing...it's obviously working for you.....don't do more hoping it will work even more....that's a mistake we all make....you say that you feel good...then you are doing the right thing....

Makes sense, Thanks for the advice! 

[andreisdaman]

Makes sense, Thanks for the advice! 

 your welcome..I think your split routine is awesome and I may try it myself

[Eyeball Chambers]

your welcome..I think your split routine is awesome and I may try it myself

Thanks, it's Max-OT style, the routine off "week 6".

I'm losing fat and gaining strength. 

[MuscleMcMannus]

I gave up worrying about cardio a long time ago.  Cardio and bodybuilding in my opinion are not compatible.  That's not to say you shouldn't worry about maintaining some semblance of cardiovascular health and conditioning.  But if you are working out properly i.e. alternating HIT with volume, changing your rest time between sets........your heart gets plenty of work.  But over the long term you'll never see the muscle mass you want with that much cardio a week.  Plus the body adapts very quickly to steady state cardio.  You'd probably be better off doing a few sets of wind sprints a couple of times a week instead of that much steady state cardio.  Just my opinion but I've made some of my best gains naturally with that mindset. 

[Eyeball Chambers]

I gave up worrying about cardio a long time ago.  Cardio and bodybuilding in my opinion are not compatible.  That's not to say you shouldn't worry about maintaining some semblance of cardiovascular health and conditioning.  But if you are working out properly i.e. alternating HIT with volume, changing your rest time between sets........your heart gets plenty of work.  But over the long term you'll never see the muscle mass you want with that much cardio a week.  Plus the body adapts very quickly to steady state cardio.  You'd probably be better off doing a few sets of wind sprints a couple of times a week instead of that much steady state cardio.  Just my opinion but I've made some of my best gains naturally with that mindset. 

Thanks for the info.

I usually wouldn't worry about doing cardio, but I'm really working on cutting fat right now and I'm not losing any strength yet.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Thanks for the info.

I usually wouldn't worry about doing cardio, but I'm really working on cutting fat right now and I'm not losing any strength yet.

Well hey if it works keep doing it.  What type of diet are you following? 

[Eyeball Chambers]

Well hey if it works keep doing it.  What type of diet are you following? 

Adonis principles pretty much lol

Just making sure I don't take in more than about 1700 - 2000 calories a day.

[MuscleMcMannus]

Here's what has worked best for me......NATURALLY as well.........

I do one strength workout a week.  And two volume workouts.  I usually have two or three days off in a row.  When I do I up my calories to like 4000 a day.  On my workout days I'm more along the lines of 2000 with my caloric intake.  Like workouts I believe you have to switch your diet up (cycling caloric intake) and keep your body guessing.  I also follow a low carb/ketogenic type diet but my fat intake is WAY high on my off days.  I'll down a pint of raw cream and a gallon of raw milk with 2lbs of meat.  I don't know what it is but I can do that and STILL get lean and shredded with VERY little cardio. 

[Eyeball Chambers]

Here's what has worked best for me......NATURALLY as well.........

I do one strength workout a week.  And two volume workouts.  I usually have two or three days off in a row.  When I do I up my calories to like 4000 a day.  On my workout days I'm more along the lines of 2000 with my caloric intake.  Like workouts I believe you have to switch your diet up (cycling caloric intake) and keep your body guessing.  I also follow a low carb/ketogenic type diet but my fat intake is WAY high on my off days.  I'll down a pint of raw cream and a gallon of raw milk with 2lbs of meat.  I don't know what it is but I can do that and STILL get lean and shredded with VERY little cardio. 

That's really interesting.  I think I'll try something like that in the future.

[calfzilla]

I don't think it would hurt especially if you have some fat you have to lose.  Go ahead and shoot for 7 days because you will probably come up short due to life circumstances.  Don't listen to these guys telling you cardio and bodybuilding don't go together.  Bodybuilding and marathon running don't go together true but a little cardio won't burn up all your muscle. 

[wild willie]

During the winter, I will use treadmill or stepmill or elliptical. When the weather breaks, I am going to try something different...... I am going to go to my high school football field and jog the sidelines and walk the endzones.

I will need to ease into this due to the fact that I haven't been jogging at all.

I need to drastically cut my body fat down and increase my breathing capacity.

Hell, I get winded just going up two flights of stairs..... not good.

[coltrane]

I think doing that much cardio will kill off any gains from the gym.  Way too much IMO.

I would do 3 days a week, about 30 mins light jogging on a tread.  Do it for a month or two and reassess your bodyfat loss.  If you stall out, up the cardio a bit..  maybe 40 mins 3 days a week.


You say youre strong right now doing so much cardio, but it will catch up to you.. and your gains will plummet.. and strength

[wild willie]

That sounds good..... I will shoot for a mon-wed-fri routine for 25-30 minutes a session. My metabolism is slower than a turtle. I gain size with out trouble but stripping body fat is a chore.