Cardio vs Eating less?

[magnet]

I am currently bulking, but I am wondering the benefit of cardio. I am just wondering what the difference is between doing cardio and eating more calories, and just eating less calories. It seems like if you were to not eat the amount of calories the cardio would burn off your usual diet then you should in theory be in the same caloric level, and it should adjust your weight in the same way...? I know most people will say do cardio AND eat less cals to lose weight, but this is simply a question of comparison...

So what's the actual (if there is one) difference between doing cardio and just eating less?

[papasmurf2217]

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/mus...ass-gains.html

[magnet]

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/mus...ass-gains.html

Thanks, that seems like a pretty good article, but I am more interested in the cutting aspect of cardio than the bulking aspect of it. Although that did bring to light some things for me.

I am more wondering why, if weight gained or lost is directly related to calories in vs. calories out, doing cardio would be any different than just eating proportionally less calories?

[johnnyironboard]

Gym are full of fat arobics instructors...eating less trumps cardio.

[beeeyandizzle]

IMO cardio gives you the opportunity to promote cardiovascular health because it gets your heart pumping blood at a constant, non-stop rate. I do it often primarily because my family has a history of heart disease. It's been argued that weight-lifting is intensive enough on your heart to promote heart-health...but I do cardio just to be sure. Plus, I don't really mind doing it. Yes, I do end up eating more (which is a plus!) and I'm still lean.

[DTrulez616]

I would say do a little and eat a little more. There are alot of benefits for doing cardio while bulking. A little cardio will help recovery but too much will hinder recovery. Im also a firm believer in Gflux which is move more, eat more. It could also help in those situations where you want to do some high rep Squats. You arent gonna be able to do them if your cardio health sucks.

Also, reps for having the same quote in your sig.

[soundcheck129]

Cardiovascular health, and you get to eat more.

I see no downside to cardio. Unless you like having to catch your breath after taking the stairs.

[Tiffany_P]

I prefer to eat less instead of doing cardio when I'm cutting. The reason is that cardio makes me really hungry, and I find it easier to create a deficit without it. Other people find that cardio blunts hunger though, so it's worth experimenting to see what works best for you.

[Money Shot]

typically eating less is better than eating more and doing more cardio for fat loss. I know Chris Aceto always says this and it makes sense

[Codo]

Cardiovascular health is more important than the size of your biceps. You will find a lot of cut, large muscular men who will die after running a half mile, you don't want to be that guy. Cardio trumps eating less because it gets your body working and your heart rate pumping. A stronger heart means more blood pumped per pump, which means less pumps throughout the day, which means a longer healthier life.

A little known fact is that a fly's heart beats, in a very averaged number, the same number of times as an human's or an elephants until before they die of old age. IF you can get your heart pumping more blood and slower, than you have successfully increased cardiovascular health.

Cardio is not opposite eating, there is more going on when you are running/swimming/biking than burning calories.

[soundcheck129]

Cardiovascular health is more important than the size of your biceps. You will find a lot of cut, large muscular men who will die after running a half mile, you don't want to be that guy. Cardio trumps eating less because it gets your body working and your heart rate pumping. A stronger heart means more blood pumped per pump, which means less pumps throughout the day, which means a longer healthier life.

A little known fact is that a fly's heart beats, in a very averaged number, the same number of times as an human's or an elephants until before they die of old age. IF you can get your heart pumping more blood and slower, than you have successfully increased cardiovascular health.

Cardio is not opposite eating, there is more going on when you are running/swimming/biking than burning calories.

This, hardcore. Don't be lazy.

[Holyspokes]

Cardio is good all the time, but more is not always better

[SumDumGoi]

typically eating less is better than eating more and doing more cardio for fat loss. I know Chris Aceto always says this and it makes sense

Chris Aceto is also an idiot.

[magnet]

I know there are other health reasons for cardio I am merely exploring the options and trying to find the truth behind working out. It seems to be similar to the debate between eating clean and dirty while eating the same amount of calories and macro composition. There seems to be not too much of a difference, but it is just "healthier" the other way..

[Flexxo]

Honestly, I basically get my cardio while lifting (resistance training). I know this sounds crazy, but I am pretty firm in the feeling of training hard, fast (with good form), and super setting pushes and pulls.

I know this isn't for everyone and I know some like their rest, etc. I am just speaking out of personal preference and experience that I get some serious heart rates while lifting.

When it comes to straight cardio, I can only either Jump rope or do sprints. I HATE steady state and I just lose my mind when going on 10+ minutes of jogging. I MUCH prefer to do either hill sprints for 6-10 intervals, or jump rope for about 10 minutes.

Your nothing without a good heart, basically. Do some form of cardio daily, even if its only 15-20 minutes. I go for a walk almost daily with my grandparents for about 30 mins. Walking is legit cardio imo.

Cutting, bulking, maintaining, whatever it is, take care of your heart.

[hooked4life]

I'm a natural fatty - I just got done cutting to nice visible abs (~9%) and I didn't do a drop of steady state cardio. I Did lift hard and heavy 5 times a week however. Compound big lifts + some more unusual things that do get the heart and lungs going. But still, I just ate less. I actually really think it helped me maintain my size and strength because I was able to recover faster than I've ever been able to on a cut.

I don't think I really lost much, if any, strength over the 3 months either.

[SumDumGoi]

I know there are other health reasons for cardio I am merely exploring the options and trying to find the truth behind working out. It seems to be similar to the debate between eating clean and dirty while eating the same amount of calories and macro composition. There seems to be not too much of a difference, but it is just "healthier" the other way..

The truth is moderate cardio is not going to have any adverse effects. My general rule of thumb is if you are cutting don't drop your total Calories by more than 500 Cals/day and create any excess Caloric deficit through aerobic exercise. If you drop your total Calories by much more than that your metabolism is going to start to drop.

[Problem]

Cardiovascular health is more important than the size of your biceps. You will find a lot of cut, large muscular men who will die after running a half mile, you don't want to be that guy. Cardio trumps eating less because it gets your body working and your heart rate pumping. A stronger heart means more blood pumped per pump, which means less pumps throughout the day, which means a longer healthier life.

A little known fact is that a fly's heart beats, in a very averaged number, the same number of times as an human's or an elephants until before they die of old age. IF you can get your heart pumping more blood and slower, than you have successfully increased cardiovascular health.

Cardio is not opposite eating, there is more going on when you are running/swimming/biking than burning calories.

who says that weight lifting don't give you a cardiovascular benefit as well?

[Problem]

The truth is moderate cardio is not going to have any adverse effects. My general rule of thumb is if you are cutting don't drop your total Calories by more than 500 Cals/day and create any excess Caloric deficit through aerobic exercise. If you drop your total Calories by much more than that your metabolism is going to start to drop.

x2.

Plus OP, you seem to understand that there's other benefits to cardio than just expanding your calorie deficit.

[magnet]

If the metabolism does in fact slow if you go less than 500 cals below maintenance then that may answer my question, b/c if that is true then you would want to only eat 500 under maintenance and then do cardio to further drop your caloric deficit. This COULD explain why you wouldn't want to drop your cals say, 1000 below maintenance etc..

[THE_TRUTH86]

i agree eating less is better than cardio... If i ever do cardio it is HIIT. 20 minutes and im done

[Kelei]

Cardiovascular health is more important than the size of your biceps. You will find a lot of cut, large muscular men who will die after running a half mile, you don't want to be that guy. Cardio trumps eating less because it gets your body working and your heart rate pumping. A stronger heart means more blood pumped per pump, which means less pumps throughout the day, which means a longer healthier life.

A little known fact is that a fly's heart beats, in a very averaged number, the same number of times as an human's or an elephants until before they die of old age. IF you can get your heart pumping more blood and slower, than you have successfully increased cardiovascular health.

Cardio is not opposite eating, there is more going on when you are running/swimming/biking than burning calories.

Go do 10 sets of squats with 60 seconds rest between sets, 15 reps per set, 245 pounds then tell me you need cardio for your heart.