Hi Everyone
I read the article and found it interesting.
Like many of you, I have received a ton of information by differant experts on this stuff and my husband (a bodybuilder) has his 2 cents to throw in as well.
I will share what my competition trainer and I have decided works for me personally.
My bodyfat tends to stay at around 18ish percent. I'm not shredded in the off-season, by any stretch, but I'm not overfat either. I work full-time and have 2 kids. Muscle building and preservation is
by far my most important goal. I have not been doing cardio consistatly. I only have so much time and muscle comes first. I admittedly have fallen off the cardio wagon over the last couple years
but it hasn't caused me to gain fat. I wouldn't mind being a little trimmer but it hasn't gotten too far out of hand.(yet!) I intend to incorporate more cardio into my training schedule for cardio health. I certainly think it is a good idea.
I am just being honest here but If I only have an hour, I will spend it lifting.
I AM in the gym (ie: weight room) 5 days a week consistantly as I have been for years. In the last couple of years I only hit the cardio when I am trying to trim down for a contest. My trainer doesn't want me to have to cut calories anymore than absolutley neccessary, so I add in cardio for several weeks prior to the show. My trainer has me do cardio in the morning and yes, on an empty stomach. I run (usually) for an hour at a moderate pace. I notice, in the article, he says you 'can' drink a protein shake prior to cardio but you shouldn't have carbs. I 'opt' to have nothing. Carbs will prevent fat burning and anything else in my tummy will make me nauseus. I always weight train after work in the afternoon. I feel my strongest and best at that time so that is when I do it. I eat several small meals during the day and have my last one about 1 1/2 hours prior to training.
I have tried doing cardio before weights in the past and I have found I simply do not make the strength or shape gains that I do when I do cardio in the morning, far away from my weight training. I don't even like to do it immediately after weights as I always train to failure and I feel like this interupts the process of recovery. That has been my personal experience.
It has been explained to me that a pound of muscle burns about 300 cals per day, whereas a pound of fat burns only roughly 50, therefore I am keeping my fat down just by the mere act of building more muscle. My trainer (and I agree) feels that cardio is something I should do in the morning, hours before I hit the weights in the afternoon and with a few meals in between. Cardio
after weights would be the reluctant second choice. Since my weight training (and half-*** diet!) does a decent job of keeping my fat down in the off-season, I intend to add cardio in, for my general health ,3 days a week in the AM before work.
Beleive it or not I have had more than one coach tell me not to worry about cardio! That it might even hinder my muscle building... However, this advice was intended for me ,personally, taking into consideration my metabolism, body type etc. They said just focus on the weights, getting in all my protein, taking my supps etc. Of course, opinions vary on everything....
It is a constant learning experience.
I get a good cardio workout during weight sessions as I train intensely, but noentheless I still intend to do specific cardio training more consistantly for my health in general. I will do it in the morning before work and continue to lift in the late afternoon.
Following this regimen seems to push the right buttons in me, but as with all things, YMMV.
Just one persons experience FYI.
XOXO
L2L
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