For all you natty competitors - gtfih!

[iron_curtis]

Have you personally or do you know of other natty competitors that have got into GREAT condition without doing cardio in their prep?

I am traveling along quite nicely atm, 13 weeks out, abs are coming in already. I have dieted down for comp twice before, been one of the best conditioned athletes each time. I have always done cardio in the past and even done it twice/day towards the end of my prep, as I'd been running behind.

ANYWAY... I'm thinking of not doing cardio this time around, so I was just wondering if many others have done this also?

Please respond.

[Duolicus]

1rd

[devlin122000]

I'm pretty sure Arnold mentioned he rarely did cardio when getting into contest shape. All about the diet

[tijay]

hey bro. question is why do you want to change something if its worked for you in the past?

pls respond

[chillz]

If you care for your health it would make a lot more sense doing cardio... For the little time it takes it's more than worth it.

[ThePACE]

LOl saw, your call on fb brah.
I guess it all depends, some people spend 2 hours a day, some do none at all.
I'll say, why not do some starting 5 weeks out just to assist.
Wear garbage bag under clothes 1 day out for water retention.. or just go in a sauna hehe

[Milone79]

Did a mini cut this past winter for 6 weeks ZERO cardio and I was surprised as to how lean I got....will probably not do any cardio for my next competition..

[nabyyy]

hey bro. question is why do you want to change something if its worked for you in the past?

pls respond

exactly this, why fix it if it isn't broken? you looked incredible on stage nohomo keep doing what you did !

[adamrochester]

i always thought if you losing 1lb a week or seeing weekly progress in pics no need to change anything

[adamjohn32]

cardio is a useful tool, but getting lean should really be more about the diet. i'd start with no cardio and go from there. you may need to add it in later, you may not. a good strategy would be to keep lowering calories when hitting plateaus in fat loss, but you might reach a point where adding some cardio in would be more beneficial then cutting more calories out.

[iron_curtis]

I'm pretty sure Arnold mentioned he rarely did cardio when getting into contest shape. All about the diet

Arnold never got 'lean' tho.

hey bro. question is why do you want to change something if its worked for you in the past?

pls respond

Nothing is ever perfect, I have done well the last two times I have dieted down, but perhaps with less/no cardio I can maintain more muscle /strength than previous comp preps. Just trying different things to see what works/doesn't work. You will never know until you try. I am never content with my 'previous best', I am always looking to move forward, whether that be gaining muscle in the offseason, or a more successfull comp prep.

If you care for your health it would make a lot more sense doing cardio... For the little time it takes it's more than worth it.

Happy to worry about ^that in the offseason. Comp prep is just about getting lean/maintaining muscle.

i always thought if you losing 1lb a week or seeing weekly progress in pics no need to change anything

I haven't done cardio yet. =P

cardio is a useful tool, but getting lean should really be more about the diet. i'd start with no cardio and go from there. you may need to add it in later, you may not. a good strategy would be to keep lowering calories when hitting plateaus in fat loss, but you might reach a point where adding some cardio in would be more beneficial then cutting more calories out.

Agree, we shall see how I go.

[Devils]

I'm pretty sure Arnold mentioned he rarely did cardio when getting into contest shape. All about the diet

and supplements

[esgibson]

hey man i'm a big believer in keeping cardio as low as possible. i've never been blessed enough with the metabolism to get super shredded myself with out it but if you got a good metabolism it could work. i know a couple guys that really didn't need to do cardio to get in seriously shredded condition but they're also the guys that are like 6% or so year round so dieting is a bit easier for them haha

[zmcdole]

If you don't have to do cardio one of two things is going on. Number one you're a genetic freak and you just stay near contest shape year round while still being able to progress and build muscle. Number two, you tried too hard to stay lean in the offseason for NO GOOD REASON other than vanity whilst restricting your ability to build muscle or get bigger and actually look different the next time you get on stage.

A few reasons why you should do cardio:

1. You're more than likely not that genetic freak I talked about.
2. It's heart healthy.
3. It will help with recovery.
4. You can keep your calories higher.
5. You'll probably need to.

[domingochavez]

Best example I can think of is Alberto Nunez, he does little to no cardio, saving it towards the end or throwing it in more as a lifestyle choice, walking up mountains etc.

His set point is below 10% AFAIK.

Would the amount of muscle you have also determine how much cardio you need to do? Athletes with more muscle mass would be burning more calories at rest, and wouldn't need to add in a whole bunch to make up a deficit. Whereas fat guys like me I found it a necessity to do moderate intensity cardio to get lean, HIIT works even better.

[andyboi]

Calories would get pretty low if you were to try get in contest condition without doing cardio.
But Aaron, you have quite a large buffer after having bulked from 5000-6000 calories per day IIRC?

[iron_curtis]

Calories would get pretty low if you were to try get in contest condition without doing cardio.
But Aaron, you have quite a large buffer after having bulked from 5000-6000 calories per day IIRC?

Yeah, 5400cals I was at for the offseason. Had to get down to 3500 for the comp prep in 2010 I think.

I am definitely eating more this comp prep than I was in 2010, haven't worked out my exact cals tho, plus I am still 13 weeks out, so the hard bit is yet to come.

I'd rather eat more cals and do some cardio than do no cardio and cut way back on cals, BUT if I don't have to do either, then sweet! =D

If you don't have to do cardio one of two things is going on. Number one you're a genetic freak and you just stay near contest shape year round while still being able to progress and build muscle. Number two, you tried too hard to stay lean in the offseason for NO GOOD REASON other than vanity whilst restricting your ability to build muscle or get bigger and actually look different the next time you get on stage.

A few reasons why you should do cardio:

1. You're more than likely not that genetic freak I talked about.
2. It's heart healthy.
3. It will help with recovery.
4. You can keep your calories higher.
5. You'll probably need to.

I do get lean very easily and have to be quite careful about not dropping muscle when I diet. I am naturally rather ectomorphic.

I was 237lbs at my offseason peak and I will be 193lbs (I assume) onstage later this year, so I definitely don't stay close to contest shape in the offseason. =P

I will stick with no cardio and if I have to include it later in my prep then I will be happy to, but i am interested to see what kinda shape i can get into without it.

[XenoNe]

what are ur workouts like when dieting?

[domingochavez]

Yeah, 5400cals I was at for the offseason. Had to get down to 3500 for the comp prep in 2010 I think.

Your diet ended up on my bulking calories, sigh :P

[pezmaster]

Yeah, 5400cals I was at for the offseason. Had to get down to 3500 for the comp prep in 2010 I think.

I am definitely eating more this comp prep than I was in 2010, haven't worked out my exact cals tho, plus I am still 13 weeks out, so the hard bit is yet to come.

I'd rather eat more cals and do some cardio than do no cardio and cut way back on cals, BUT if I don't have to do either, then sweet! =D



I do get lean very easily and have to be quite careful about not dropping muscle when I diet. I am naturally rather ectomorphic.

I was 237lbs at my offseason peak and I will be 193lbs (I assume) onstage later this year, so I definitely don't stay close to contest shape in the offseason. =P

I will stick with no cardio and if I have to include it later in my prep then I will be happy to, but i am interested to see what kinda shape i can get into without it.

HIIT

just a thought that doing HIIt does create very different enzymic response within the muscle
yes you can get lean by not doing cardio and modifying your calorie intake and macronutrient profile

scientifically, if you want to get that extra bit leaner, consider doing HIIT .. i would still recommend a low pace cardio system for any of my athletes that targets the fat burning zone..

i also do cardio leading into any comp and my condition speaks for itself

hope this gives you another view/insight

good luck with your prep

[kentykentkent]

HIIT

just a thought that doing HIIt does create very different enzymic response within the muscle
yes you can get lean by not doing cardio and modifying your calorie intake and macronutrient profile

scientifically, if you want to get that extra bit leaner, consider doing HIIT .. i would still recommend a low pace cardio system for any of my athletes that targets the fat burning zone..

i also do cardio leading into any comp and my condition speaks for itself

hope this gives you another view/insight

good luck with your prep

Join date : Sep 2010.

First post.

Saved his posting virginity for you Aaron.

[iron_curtis]

what are ur workouts like when dieting?

The same as when I'm bulking (so far anyway) as my strength drops I will increase volume (sets).

HIIT

just a thought that doing HIIt does create very different enzymic response within the muscle
yes you can get lean by not doing cardio and modifying your calorie intake and macronutrient profile

scientifically, if you want to get that extra bit leaner, consider doing HIIT .. i would still recommend a low pace cardio system for any of my athletes that targets the fat burning zone..

i also do cardio leading into any comp and my condition speaks for itself

hope this gives you another view/insight

good luck with your prep

PEZ!

I like HIIT, especially the fact it brings about more anaerobic type responses, as you stated, which is why im leaning away from doing LISS/MISS at all this prep. In the past have only chosen to do HIITin the offseason when im eating lots and i'd just do it on an 'off day' for a bit of fitness.

During comp prep I prefer the MISS type stuff (speed walk) also. Less stress on the body in a time when it is already rather stressed.

[ironpump22]

Have you personally or do you know of other natty competitors that have got into GREAT condition without doing cardio in their prep?

I am traveling along quite nicely atm, 13 weeks out, abs are coming in already. I have dieted down for comp twice before, been one of the best conditioned athletes each time. I have always done cardio in the past and even done it twice/day towards the end of my prep, as I'd been running behind.

ANYWAY... I'm thinking of not doing cardio this time around, so I was just wondering if many others have done this also?

Please respond.

I did zero cardio for my last contest, avi and pictures on profile were the result.

Will probably not do any cardio this time around either (14 weeks out right now).

[Zenith]

Hey Aaron off topic question but how do you think you would go against Jack Miles with the package he bought to the stage last year?
I saw some pics of him in the overall INBA and I think he was close to Trev for the win