Cardio and Fat Loss

rnorton74 · 09-09-2008, 06:32 PM

I've been training for 7 months now and have loss 40 lbs. I still have about 20 - 30 lbs to lose. I'm thinking about increasing my cardio and slightly cutting back my strength training in an effort to once and for all lose the fat. My eating habits are finally clean again (6 sm meals a day - healthy). I strength train 6 days a week working different major muscle groups each day. I also do about 45 minutes of cardio 6 days a week. I have hit a plateau right now. I'm thinking about decreasing my sets by one and increasing my cardio. I'm looking for feedback from people who have really tried to become cut for competitions or anyone who has had success in losing there last little bit of fat. I haven't updated my pics in awhile, but I'm actually in a little better shape then what they show - I just want it to be a surprise for everyone in the end. Anyway - any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know my eating habits are about 70 - 80 percent of my fat loss, but any advice on how to really go after the rest of my fat loss goals over the next 6 weeks would be great. Once I hit that mark, I will decrease my cardio some to maintain and then concentrate more on adding a little more muscle since it's almost impossible to do both at the same time.
Thanks everyone!!!

Metal Jerk · 09-09-2008, 07:05 PM

Strength training is a vital part of fat loss.

GetBig87 · 09-09-2008, 07:10 PM

You definetly DONT want to cut back on strength training. When there is a calorie defecit you need to give your body a reason to preserve your hard earned muscle while burning fat. You ever see people that lose a ton of weight and dont workout? they end up skinny-fat, losing all their muscle and being left behind with alot of fat and excess skin.

thegreatalex · 09-09-2008, 07:11 PM

hey keepit up, like the guy befor me str is vital, and make sure you keep changeing up, such as higher reps then hiting some str. but the diet is key, with out you will get NO WEAR

SkeetSkeet · 09-09-2008, 07:15 PM

you'd probly lose fat faster w/ more cardio minus strenght training but like everyone said, you'd end up skinny with diminished muscle mass compared to where you could be. If you only care about weight loss then yea do straight cardio in place of where you used to strength train but I wouldn't really advise it

Pack22s · 09-09-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GetBig87

You definetly DONT want to cut back on strength training. When there is a calorie defecit you need to give your body a reason to preserve your hard earned muscle while burning fat. You ever see people that lose a ton of weight and dont workout? they end up skinny-fat, losing all their muscle and being left behind with alot of fat and excess skin.

Very good point. You also want to consume alot of anabolic foods such as yams, red meat, almonds, and fish oils to prevent the loss of muscle. You also want to increase your cardio a bit but up the reps on your sets to 12 - 15 to give the muscle more tone and achieve that chiseled look.

AHTTG · 09-09-2008, 08:37 PM

If you're below 12% and are in it for the long haul.. I would tell you to stop the cut and gain some mass. In the end it will be easier to cut with more LBM and you'll look much better than you would if you cut lower now.

rnorton74 · 09-09-2008, 09:35 PM

That's awesome everyone - Thanks for your input. I will continue the strength training to make sure I at minimum maintain in my attempt to lose the access fat while picking up some cardio and adding the appropriate foods to ensure I keep the muscle that I already have. I know the muscle is there - some of it is just currently hidden. Thanks again everyone!!!

romanista10 · 09-10-2008, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnorton74

I've been training for 7 months now and have loss 40 lbs. I still have about 20 - 30 lbs to lose. I'm thinking about increasing my cardio and slightly cutting back my strength training in an effort to once and for all lose the fat. My eating habits are finally clean again (6 sm meals a day - healthy). I strength train 6 days a week working different major muscle groups each day. I also do about 45 minutes of cardio 6 days a week. I have hit a plateau right now. I'm thinking about decreasing my sets by one and increasing my cardio. I'm looking for feedback from people who have really tried to become cut for competitions or anyone who has had success in losing there last little bit of fat. I haven't updated my pics in awhile, but I'm actually in a little better shape then what they show - I just want it to be a surprise for everyone in the end. Anyway - any advice would be greatly appreciated. I know my eating habits are about 70 - 80 percent of my fat loss, but any advice on how to really go after the rest of my fat loss goals over the next 6 weeks would be great. Once I hit that mark, I will decrease my cardio some to maintain and then concentrate more on adding a little more muscle since it's almost impossible to do both at the same time.
Thanks everyone!!!

DON'T do that. I lost 50lbs and I touched a treadmill maybe 20times. Its not useless but very overrated in my opinion. Strength training, a great diet, and a bit of cardio is what I recommend. Strength training greatly outweighs the benefits of cardio any day for any means.