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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: JasonH on June 23, 2008, 02:03:23 AM

Title: Cardio Question
Post by: JasonH on June 23, 2008, 02:03:23 AM
Okay, I very rarely do cardio so I am no expert on it hence the need for this question.

Someone told me that in order to burn fat you need to do cardio at a low intensity and cardio done at higher intensity tends to burn carbs.

Is this true and if so why is it?

Just for info I intend to now start doing cardio about two or three times a week on a stationary bike I have at home. I will be doing half an hour at a time on my days off from weight-training. The purpose of me doing this cardio is simply to improve my cardiovascular fitness - I am dying a death in the gym doing heavy training probably because I am simply not fit enough - years of lack of cardio have taken their toll.

Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Meso_z on June 23, 2008, 03:24:13 AM
Okay, I very rarely do cardio so I am no expert on it hence the need for this question.

Someone told me that in order to burn fat you need to do cardio at a low intensity and cardio done at higher intensity tends to burn carbs.

Is this true and if so why is it?

Just for info I intend to now start doing cardio about two or three times a week on a stationary bike I have at home. I will be doing half an hour at a time on my days off from weight-training. The purpose of me doing this cardio is simply to improve my cardiovascular fitness - I am dying a death in the gym doing heavy training probably because I am simply not fit enough - years of lack of cardio have taken their toll.



You should aim for about 120-130 bpm.....thats a low to medium intensity.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: webcake on June 23, 2008, 04:12:28 AM
Someone told me that in order to burn fat you need to do cardio at a low intensity and cardio done at higher intensity tends to burn carbs.

That seems to be the general consensus about cardio. Low intensity = fat burn.

Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: JasonH on June 23, 2008, 05:03:58 AM
i have stopped altogether and just limiting what eat, cardio will burn 300 calories, i can avoid the 2 bananas which is around 300 calories.

That's the trouble - for many years I have done this approach and dropped the carbs whenever I want to lose fat. My problem isn't losing fat - it's actually getting FIT. I can barely walk a flight of stairs without getting out of breath and my workouts are suffering as a result - I'm becoming a bit of a wreck when it comes to fitness. The trouble is though I don't want to sacrifice muscle mass when doing the cardio either - bit of a paradox really.  :-\
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Jayhawker on June 23, 2008, 06:39:58 AM
I have read the exact opposite, the High Intensity is best for fat loss. I'll try to dig up a few links.

In the end something is better than nothing.


Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Montague on June 23, 2008, 07:10:52 AM
My problem isn't losing fat - it's actually getting FIT. I can barely walk a flight of stairs without getting out of breath and my workouts are suffering as a result... The trouble is though I don't want to sacrifice muscle mass when doing the cardio either - bit of a paradox really.  :-\

No, it's not paradoxically complicated at all.

You wish to get your heart and lungs in shape while maintaining muscle.
Low intensity cardio for 30-45 min should help you get there while sparing your hard earned muscle.
Maybe bump up your protein a bit.

You're good to go.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: JasonH on June 23, 2008, 07:18:48 AM
No, it's not paradoxically complicated at all.

You wish to get your heart and lungs in shape while maintaining muscle.
Low intensity cardio for 30-45 min should help you get there while sparing your hard earned muscle.
Maybe bump up your protein a bit.

You're good to go.

Good stuff.  8)
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 23, 2008, 04:06:59 PM
low intensity cardio burns ONLY FAT. high intesnity cardio burns both fat and glycogen..and without glycogen it will burn muscle. and it is going to interfere with recovery too. but high intensity cardio like interval sprints is great for boosting metabolic rate. not just during cardio, but for days after. whereas low intensity cardio gives only a very smal and pretty much insignificant bump in metabolic rate once youve stopped doing cardio

me personally; i dont mind spending 3 hours a day on a treadmill. as long as i know im burrning fat ill do it.  so i prefer low intensity, that way i know im not interfering with muscle retntion while dieting and i know im burning fat.  just make sure you eat a fair amount of meat protein... because even though its low intensity cardio, there still is a very small suction on glucose at all times... and if your doing one hour of cardio without eating and you dont got some meat digesting... your probably going to dive into skeletal muscle for those amino acids to use in gluconeogenesis to provide energy for that slow steady glucose feed your body always has.

 :)
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Emmortal on June 23, 2008, 04:16:43 PM
Good post Candi, just pop some BCAA's before doing slow cardio to ensure no muscle wasting occurs.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 23, 2008, 04:19:47 PM
Good post Candi, just pop some BCAA's before doing slow cardio to ensure no muscle wasting occurs.
thx !

some fish oil helps too, and boosts the amount of fat youll burn as well !
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 23, 2008, 04:47:13 PM
low intensity cardio burns ONLY FAT. high intesnity cardio burns both fat and glycogen..and without glycogen it will burn muscle. and it is going to interfere with recovery too. but high intensity cardio like interval sprints is great for boosting metabolic rate. not just during cardio, but for days after. whereas low intensity cardio gives only a very smal and pretty much insignificant bump in metabolic rate once youve stopped doing cardio

me personally; i dont mind spending 3 hours a day on a treadmill. as long as i know im burrning fat ill do it.  so i prefer low intensity, that way i know im not interfering with muscle retntion while dieting and i know im burning fat.  just make sure you eat a fair amount of meat protein... because even though its low intensity cardio, there still is a very small suction on glucose at all times... and if your doing one hour of cardio without eating and you dont got some meat digesting... your probably going to dive into skeletal muscle for those amino acids to use in gluconeogenesis to provide energy for that slow steady glucose feed your body always has.

 :)

I'm confused on what you're trying to say......are you saying intervals burns less fat than long cardio sessions? Oh well, without getting technical (because I can go on for days with this subject alone bringing case studies into play, but I digress).

Short answer........interval training and energy system training will burn fat much more efficiantly than long cardio sessions....period, no if, and's or but's about it. Also you WILL retain more muscle. Fact; Marathon runners have less muscle and carry more fat than sprinters or any TypeII or IIa athlete. Weight training is a fast twitch activity....you're "cardio" should be the same. Also, it's been proven that you can increase AEROBIC capacity with interval training (ANAEROBIC)
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: pumpster on June 23, 2008, 06:46:56 PM
Short answer........interval training and energy system training will burn fat much more efficiantly than long cardio sessions....period, no if, and's or but's about it. Also you WILL retain more muscle. Fact; Marathon runners have less muscle and carry more fat than sprinters or any TypeII or IIa athlete. Weight training is a fast twitch activity....you're "cardio" should be the same. Also, it's been proven that you can increase AEROBIC capacity with interval training (ANAEROBIC)

Both HIIT and longer sessions are good, whether one's marginally better than the other's only one factor. Just as or more important is which one appeals more to use regularly. I don't like HIIT, so whether it's theoretically better or not isn't going to make a huge difference bottom line.

Also, most don't mention that HIIT can be more draining, which can be counter-productive to training over time.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 23, 2008, 06:55:31 PM
If you want you can call Alwyn. I've been working with him for years.


http://www.alwyncosgrove.com/Energy-System-Training.html
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: MisterMagoo on June 23, 2008, 07:23:16 PM
sprinters are bigger and leaner than marathoners. that's pretty much all i need to know.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 23, 2008, 08:59:30 PM
I'm confused on what you're trying to say......are you saying intervals burns less fat than long cardio sessions? Oh well, without getting technical (because I can go on for days with this subject alone bringing case studies into play, but I digress).

Short answer........interval training and energy system training will burn fat much more efficiantly than long cardio sessions....period, no if, and's or but's about it. Also you WILL retain more muscle. Fact; Marathon runners have less muscle and carry more fat than sprinters or any TypeII or IIa athlete. Weight training is a fast twitch activity....you're "cardio" should be the same. Also, it's been proven that you can increase AEROBIC capacity with interval training (ANAEROBIC)
your entire post was based on the assumption that i was saying that the amount of total fat burned in low intensity cardio is greater than that of high intensity cardio.

wrong.

i didnt say that nor do i think that.

Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: flexingtonsteele on June 23, 2008, 09:31:10 PM
I'm confused on what you're trying to say......are you saying intervals burns less fat than long cardio sessions? Oh well, without getting technical (because I can go on for days with this subject alone bringing case studies into play, but I digress).

Short answer........interval training and energy system training will burn fat much more efficiantly than long cardio sessions....period, no if, and's or but's about it. Also you WILL retain more muscle. Fact; Marathon runners have less muscle and carry more fat than sprinters or any TypeII or IIa athlete. Weight training is a fast twitch activity....you're "cardio" should be the same. Also, it's been proven that you can increase AEROBIC capacity with interval training (ANAEROBIC)

well i could go on and on about this too.

I think both methods of cardio ( hiit and low intensity ) have its place. I believe it all matters on your diet. If you are doing a keto diet. I would NEVER recommend someone do HIIT, for obvious reasons.

But if your on a mod/high carb diet, i would totally say that HIIT would be appropriate.

So I believe it matters more what you are eating. Doing either will get the same results ( hopefully ) in the end. So we could argue about this all day, but lets not :) and just accept that I am right haha :)
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: MisterMagoo on June 23, 2008, 10:40:01 PM
I think both methods of cardio ( hiit and low intensity ) have its place. I believe it all matters on your diet. If you are doing a keto diet. I would NEVER recommend someone do HIIT, for obvious reasons.

i used to do HIIT on a keto diet. what's the problem?

i'm assuming there IS a problem, i just don't know what it is. i also kept my calories stupidly high so i didn't lose weight at the rate i should have, but that's another story entirely.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 23, 2008, 10:41:02 PM
i used to do HIIT on a keto diet. what's the problem?

i'm assuming there IS a problem, i just don't know what it is. i also kept my calories stupidly high so i didn't lose weight at the rate i should have, but that's another story entirely.
low crab diet = low glycogen

low glycogen +hit cardio = muscle loss
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: flexingtonsteele on June 23, 2008, 11:43:47 PM
low crab diet = low glycogen

low glycogen +hit cardio = muscle loss

yea pretty much what i was going to say.

Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 24, 2008, 01:12:22 AM
LOL...nothing wrong magoo. Candizzle and flexington are just very confused in their therories. They obviously didn't read the link supporting me. As a matter if fact I could provide 100 links supporting me and they would still say it's wrong. Don't worry dude, there's no way to "lose" muscle on HIIT...LOL!
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 24, 2008, 01:19:39 AM
Just to add, depending on the intensity, you could burn an extra 150-200 for the next hour or so after the interval session. Really no better fat burner than training all 3 energy systems.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 24, 2008, 01:23:59 AM
Get yourself a good recovery suppliment as well. We use SURGE but just about any will do.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: flexingtonsteele on June 24, 2008, 01:42:52 AM
LOL...nothing wrong magoo. Candizzle and flexington are just very confused in their therories. They obviously didn't read the link supporting me. As a matter if fact I could provide 100 links supporting me and they would still say it's wrong. Don't worry dude, there's no way to "lose" muscle on HIIT...LOL!

no im not confused at all. I totally know what im talking about :)

High intensity energy systems work relies mostly on glycogen for energy. But when you're on a low-carb diet your glycogen stores won't be as high as during a normal diet. And the limited amount of glycogen you have will be needed for your weight training sessions.

Adding-in high intensity energy systems work will only lead to further depletion of the glycogen stores and to muscle catabolism. The body will break down muscle tissue into amino acids which will then be transformed into glucose by the liver.

So when adding ESW to a low-carb diet you should focus on the methods where glucose use is minimal. This means either low-intensity cardio at 65-70% of your max heart rate won't use too much glucose/glycogen.

Yes, this form of training burns less calories than intervals. However, when carbs are restricted, intervals can lead to muscle loss.

Low-intensity work is best performed right after weight training when fat mobilization is at its highest. This way, the low-intensity work will be much more effective than if it were used by itself.

Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 24, 2008, 02:04:30 AM
no im not confused at all. I totally know what im talking about :)

High intensity energy systems work relies mostly on glycogen for energy. But when you're on a low-carb diet your glycogen stores won't be as high as during a normal diet. And the limited amount of glycogen you have will be needed for your weight training sessions.

Adding-in high intensity energy systems work will only lead to further depletion of the glycogen stores and to muscle catabolism. The body will break down muscle tissue into amino acids which will then be transformed into glucose by the liver.

So when adding ESW to a low-carb diet you should focus on the methods where glucose use is minimal. This means either low-intensity cardio at 65-70% of your max heart rate won't use too much glucose/glycogen.

Yes, this form of training burns less calories than intervals. However, when carbs are restricted, intervals can lead to muscle loss.

Low-intensity work is best performed right after weight training when fat mobilization is at its highest. This way, the low-intensity work will be much more effective than if it were used by itself.



Sorry dude, but your wrong. I don't know if you actually know how interval training works, but I assure you......no, I GUARANTY you will not and cannot lose muscle in a 20 or even 30min interval session 4 days per week as opposed to 1-2 hours per day 5 days per week of sustained "cardio". It's too late now and I'm trying to finish up some work but tomorrow I will provide as much evidence as you wish to back my words. You can do the same I presume?
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Alex23 on June 24, 2008, 01:28:03 PM
What's 'HIIT'?
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: pumpster on June 24, 2008, 01:55:37 PM
What's 'HIIT'?
High intensity interval training.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Brutal_1 on June 25, 2008, 05:09:45 AM
Okay, I very rarely do cardio so I am no expert on it hence the need for this question.

Someone told me that in order to burn fat you need to do cardio at a low intensity and cardio done at higher intensity tends to burn carbs.

Is this true and if so why is it?

Just for info I intend to now start doing cardio about two or three times a week on a stationary bike I have at home. I will be doing half an hour at a time on my days off from weight-training. The purpose of me doing this cardio is simply to improve my cardiovascular fitness - I am dying a death in the gym doing heavy training probably because I am simply not fit enough - years of lack of cardio have taken their toll.




my two cents:

If you're in the gym for fat loss...then increased metabolic rate should be you primary concern.  In which case higher intensity cardio makes more sense.  It is true that at a lower intensity you burn more fat, but for how long?  At rest, your heart is using fat for energy, but in a 24 hour span, you burn more calories with an increased BMR after an intense bout of cardio.  High intense cardio anywhere from 20-40 min.  When I do this in the morning I've gotta carry a towel with me throughout the day because of my elevated metabolism...causing me to sweat profusely for about the next 3-4 hours. 

Sometimes, if I'm really pressed for time I'll do the interval training...running at a high speed for 15-20sec intervals and stepping to the sides of the treadmill for 10 sec or so, fine tune it for you...doing that for about 15min is more than enough ;)
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: montrealman76 on June 25, 2008, 07:49:55 AM
Hold on here.. im getting confused :(

Im strictly working out to lose weight. I dont care how much muscle i lose right now due i can always work on getting it back later on when im lower in weight. ( started at 260lbs, dropped 20lbs in 4 weeks now ). The first 4 weeks of cardio was good, 1 hour sessions, 130-160 BPM. In the last week or so.. ive been trying to keep my BPM at 160 now for as long as i can in my workout. I thought this would promote better fat burn rather then if i was to keep it at 130 BPM.

Im 31 so my BPM is supposed to be 132-180ish. So.. i always thought that 160 would be a nice high intensity fat burn. Am i wrong? Should i be almost forcing myself to ease up on the cardio?

From what im reading.. i should be trying to hit 130 instead of 160 and that doesnt make sense to me. ( but i AM a workout retard who only joined the gym just over a month ago ).

Please can someone explain a little better or provide solid links?
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Faust on June 25, 2008, 12:53:09 PM
Interesting study:

http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/2/695

One group only lifts weights three times a week
One group only goes running three times a week
One group lifts and goes running for 40 minutes afterwards (three times a week)

Last group lost most fat and gained most muscle. Group that goes running actually lost muscle.

From what i've read HIIT is superior than normal cardio. However, is it feasable for a serious weightlifter to add HIIT?
What i do now, is i lift 3 times a week. And i'm gonna try adding low/medium intensity cardio for 30-40 mins several times a week. As long as you stay under 45 minutes there is not much danger of muscle loss because cortisol levels are low.

E.g. today i did chest and tris. Kept the work out short: around 45 mins. After that i had a shake with some dextrose/whey and then i shot some bball for 30 minutes. Not really for fat loss, but cardio has more important benefits imo.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 25, 2008, 01:33:14 PM
That would be one example of an energy system type of training....a little more to it, but its somewhat of an example
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: webcake on June 25, 2008, 05:17:42 PM
Hold on here.. im getting confused :(

Im strictly working out to lose weight. I dont care how much muscle i lose right now due i can always work on getting it back later on when im lower in weight. ( started at 260lbs, dropped 20lbs in 4 weeks now ). The first 4 weeks of cardio was good, 1 hour sessions, 130-160 BPM. In the last week or so.. ive been trying to keep my BPM at 160 now for as long as i can in my workout. I thought this would promote better fat burn rather then if i was to keep it at 130 BPM.

Im 31 so my BPM is supposed to be 132-180ish. So.. i always thought that 160 would be a nice high intensity fat burn. Am i wrong? Should i be almost forcing myself to ease up on the cardio?

From what im reading.. i should be trying to hit 130 instead of 160 and that doesnt make sense to me. ( but i AM a workout retard who only joined the gym just over a month ago ).

Please can someone explain a little better or provide solid links?

If this is the case, do high(er) intensity cardio then. The whole idea with low intensity cardio is that it burns fat whilst minimising muscle loss. If you want to shed WEIGHT, do higher intensity cardio as you will burn more calories. If you want to shed BODYFAT, low intensity cardio is (supposedly) the best option.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 25, 2008, 06:13:47 PM
If this is the case, do high(er) intensity cardio then. The whole idea with low intensity cardio is that it burns fat whilst minimising muscle loss. If you want to shed WEIGHT, do higher intensity cardio as you will burn more calories. If you want to shed BODYFAT, low intensity cardio is (supposedly) the best option.

All due respect, you have it backwards.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: webcake on June 25, 2008, 06:24:54 PM
All due respect, you have it backwards.

lol, like i said supposedly this is the way it is. Like all things it seems, there are many conflicting reports.

The reason i say that high intensity cardio is better for losing weight is you need to take into consideration "post workout calorie burning". More vigorous cardio, eg jogging at 80% of MHR, will not only burn more calories than low intensity cardio for the same time period, you will continue to burn calories after you have completed the run, for up to 48hrs. Where as when you finish a low intensity cardio session, the calorie burning stops. Thats why i think that for weight loss (not worrying about muscle loss either), high intensity cardio is better. But thats just my opinion...
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 25, 2008, 06:29:41 PM
 Coach, if youve got all these studies and reports to show that bodybuilders have been doing things ass-backwards and have been eating away all their muscle tissue while dieting since the first Olympia well then post em up and shock the bodybuilding community!




jeez, if this is true imagine what ronnioe would have looked like had he done sprints instead of done old school low intensity cardio ?  :o

 ;D
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Cap on June 25, 2008, 06:50:00 PM
I'm confused on what you're trying to say......are you saying intervals burns less fat than long cardio sessions? Oh well, without getting technical (because I can go on for days with this subject alone bringing case studies into play, but I digress).

Short answer........interval training and energy system training will burn fat much more efficiantly than long cardio sessions....period, no if, and's or but's about it. Also you WILL retain more muscle. Fact; Marathon runners have less muscle and carry more fat than sprinters or any TypeII or IIa athlete. Weight training is a fast twitch activity....you're "cardio" should be the same. Also, it's been proven that you can increase AEROBIC capacity with interval training (ANAEROBIC)
So true.  Compare the CC and distance runners to a track sprinter.  The latter is more muscular, stronger and runs intervals. 

I like doing quarter mile intervals, which is good for endurance and fat burning, but I do this in addition to longer runs.  Coach is right about interval training being applicable to endurance....these are called Fartlek drills.


Candi-Ronnie could get cut the way he did because of strict diet and pills, he didn't need to do hard cardio.

Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: darksol on June 25, 2008, 08:35:00 PM
If you are training and you are still feeling out of shape, you could be lacking certain vitamins or minerals.  For example I have to take extra Iron because my body lacks it.  Things like Iron are essential for moving oxygen around to your cells.  Also you might try cutting down on sugars, and replace it with leafy green stuff ( spinich  ext. )  Another possibility is insulin ( diabetes )
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 25, 2008, 09:50:56 PM
Candizzle, start with the link I provided. I personally haven't seen a study that contradicts that. Look at sprinter and look at marathon runners and Triathletes. True marathon runners and triathletes consume literally thousands of more calories than sprinters yet they carry more fat and less muscle.. If I broke it down to you scientifically you might get it so iwill just leave the example of the sprinter vs. Marathoner.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 25, 2008, 09:59:19 PM
Candizzle, start with the link I provided. I personally haven't seen a study that contradicts that. Look at sprinter and look at marathon runners and Triathletes. True marathon runners and triathletes consume literally thousands of more calories than sprinters yet they carry more fat and less muscle.. If I broke it down to you scientifically you might get it so iwill just leave the example of the sprinter vs. Marathoner.
yes but RUNNING during a marathon is quite different than WALKING one. see, running the preferential source of fuel is glucose. when theres no glucose, and no glycogen, and no amino acids coming from digested proteins, then muscle gets eating. same situation for sprinting.   BUT, see WALKING preferential fuel source is fat. so walk walk walk wlak walk and you just burn fat fat fat..
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: flexingtonsteele on June 25, 2008, 10:15:10 PM
yes but RUNNING during a marathon is quite different than WALKING one. see, running the preferential source of fuel is glucose. when theres no glucose, and no glycogen, and no amino acids coming from digested proteins, then muscle gets eating. same situation for sprinting.   BUT, see WALKING preferential fuel source is fat. so walk walk walk wlak walk and you just burn fat fat fat..

yea i was telling coach this as well, but he's in his own world and doesnt understand it.

im not talking about the avg everyday joe doing cardio, who would probably benefit more from HIIT, because of the dietary habits.

But im talking about a person who is living a bb lifestyle and is on a KETO diet specifically. I was only saying that they would benefit from low intensity long duration cardio more.

So when Coach comes down from planet berardi, he might understand that.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 26, 2008, 05:20:24 AM
So I guess everyother S&C expert in the world is wrong and you two are right?
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: candidizzle on June 26, 2008, 12:44:17 PM
So I guess everyother S&C expert in the world is wrong and you two are right?
i guess everybodybuilder in the history of the sport is wrong and all these studies and experts you claim to have as back up are right ?
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: The Coach on June 26, 2008, 01:27:40 PM
Yes...that about sums it up!!
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: flexingtonsteele on June 26, 2008, 06:37:53 PM
Yes...that about sums it up!!

yep it does, so lets end this. None of us will budge and I totally understand what you are saying coach and agree with you. HIIT is great.

BUT! What I am saying is that it is not great in every situation. And since getbig is a BB board, and lots of bb'ers nowadays are using keto diets. All I was saying is that I would not do HIIT on a keto diet, and that long duration low intensity cardio would be much better in that situation. But you know what your talking about, so lets end this thread
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: ATHEIST on June 26, 2008, 07:18:30 PM
I just started doing cardio myself. dont want to lose strength. pretty strong and fairly lean and i eat clean, i just wanted to tighten up. im thoroughly confused now thank you. i think i'll use the stairmaster at a med pace for like 10-15 minutes. does that sound good?
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: JasonH on June 27, 2008, 01:38:12 AM
I just started doing cardio myself. dont want to lose strength. pretty strong and fairly lean and i eat clean, i just wanted to tighten up. im thoroughly confused now thank you. i think i'll use the stairmaster at a med pace for like 10-15 minutes. does that sound good?

Hehe - yes, I was thinking the same thing - sounds like I've started a war between Coach and Candizzle here.

Either way, some good advice and a good debate - I've done a few cardio sessions on the stationary bike this week and I can alrady feel like my fitness levels are improving. I'm not too fussed as yet about losing fat, I just don't want to lose any muscle. And I just want to become a bit more aerobically fitter. I'll been doing 20-30 mins on the bike two or three times a week and we'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: AVBG on June 27, 2008, 01:48:12 AM
Do both- I do alternate between hi-intensity and long/slow.

When doing a double cardio (two sessions in a day), I normally do long/slow straight after a workout (AM) and if not doing cardio post workout (on its own in the PM) I do Hi-intensity.
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: Fatpanda on June 27, 2008, 09:57:14 AM
bigj i think your best option is to start off with 3 x30-45 min low intensity cardio sessions a week to slowly increase your fitness, slowly increasing resistance over a month, then start HIIT, as HIIT is far far more efficient at increasing fitness levels than low intensity cardio.

see this for good info on the tabata study/method ( the Ultimate HIIT protocol)

http://www.cbass.com/FATBURN.HTM

these parts stood out for me:

fitness:
The moderate-intensity endurance training program produced a significant increase in V02max (about 10%), but had no effect on anaerobic capacity. The high-intensity intermittent protocol improved V02max by about 14%; anaerobic capacity increased by a whopping 28%.

Dr. Tabata and his colleagues believe this is the first study to demonstrate an increase in both aerobic and anaerobic power. What's more, in an e-mail response to Dick Winett, Dr. Tabata said, "The fact is that the rate of increase in V02max [14% for the high-intensity protocol - in only 6 weeks] is one of the highest ever reported in exercise science." (Note, the students participating in this study were members of varsity table tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer and swimming teams and already had relatively high aerobic capacities.)


regarding fat loss:
The researchers calculated that the ET group burned more than twice as many calories while exercising than the HIIT program. But (surprise, surprise) skinfold measurements showed that the HIIT group lost more subcutaneous fat. "Moreover," reported the researchers, "when the difference in the total energy cost of the program was taken into account..., the subcutaneous fat loss was ninefold greater in the HIIT program than in the ET program." In short, the HIIT group got 9 times more fat-loss benefit for every calorie burned exercising.


candy i believe your reasoning is flawed, walking is simply training your muscles to do what they do everyday with ease and become efficient endurance type fibres (smaller)

HIIT trains your muscles to be powerful and produce strength greater than it currently is ( bigger)
Title: Re: Cardio Question
Post by: JasonH on June 28, 2008, 12:21:47 AM
bigj i think your best option is to start off with 3 x30-45 min low intensity cardio sessions a week to slowly increase your fitness, slowly increasing resistance over a month, then start HIIT, as HIIT is far far more efficient at increasing fitness levels than low intensity cardio.

see this for good info on the tabata study/method ( the Ultimate HIIT protocol)

http://www.cbass.com/FATBURN.HTM

these parts stood out for me:

fitness:
The moderate-intensity endurance training program produced a significant increase in V02max (about 10%), but had no effect on anaerobic capacity. The high-intensity intermittent protocol improved V02max by about 14%; anaerobic capacity increased by a whopping 28%.

Dr. Tabata and his colleagues believe this is the first study to demonstrate an increase in both aerobic and anaerobic power. What's more, in an e-mail response to Dick Winett, Dr. Tabata said, "The fact is that the rate of increase in V02max [14% for the high-intensity protocol - in only 6 weeks] is one of the highest ever reported in exercise science." (Note, the students participating in this study were members of varsity table tennis, baseball, basketball, soccer and swimming teams and already had relatively high aerobic capacities.)


regarding fat loss:
The researchers calculated that the ET group burned more than twice as many calories while exercising than the HIIT program. But (surprise, surprise) skinfold measurements showed that the HIIT group lost more subcutaneous fat. "Moreover," reported the researchers, "when the difference in the total energy cost of the program was taken into account..., the subcutaneous fat loss was ninefold greater in the HIIT program than in the ET program." In short, the HIIT group got 9 times more fat-loss benefit for every calorie burned exercising.


candy i believe your reasoning is flawed, walking is simply training your muscles to do what they do everyday with ease and become efficient endurance type fibres (smaller)

HIIT trains your muscles to be powerful and produce strength greater than it currently is ( bigger)

Good post - it certainly makes sense what you say and I'll definitely give it a try.