Super stupid question: should I do cardio?

[Barzona]

I kept hearing in places that by doing cardio, you were burning the calories that the body needs to build your muscles bigger.

So, is it true that cardio is counterproductive to bodybuilding, or do I have that completely backwards?

It seems to make sense that by doing cardio, I'll be healthier. Can someone finally put this confusion to rest for me?

[Blackjack68]

If the calories you burn doing cardio puts you in a calorie deficit, then you will find it hard to put on any muscle, and you'll cut some fat. If with the cardio you're still in surplus, you'll build muscle, and likely a little fat (depending on how big the surplus).

Figure into your total daily energy expenditure like any other excercise, eat accordingly for your goals.

Yes, it will make you healthier overall, and may even have some benefits for muscle recovery..... or not.

[Curlers]

its only counter productive if you do too much cardio. x2-3 a week is what most people suggest.

as long as your eating enough it wont be a problem.

[jammyo40]

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

[BFJ]

Agreed with blackjack68 - do as much as seems good for your goals. i think it's always a good idea to keep a little bit in year round for health. if you use a little more of high intensity intervals vs. low intensity you won't be doing it as long. one note - i'd encourage fed state cardio rather than fasted.

[repsandsets]

Agree. Cardio is an important dimension of overall fitness. Intense cardio can increase cortisol levels, which is not good for bodybuilding, but moderate cardio will keep your cardiovascular system in shape and not interfere with bodybuilding. It might even help burn body fat more effectively.

[ironwill2008]

So, is it true that cardio is counterproductive to bodybuilding,

If you're running marathons it probably would be.

But if you stick with just a couple of 20-minute sessions of moderate-intensity cv per week, it will increase your heart/lung capacity to a point where your muscles will be the limiting factor during a heavy set of Squats or Deadlifts, and not the fact that you're sucking wind like a steam engine.

[Yodums]

Agree. Cardio is an important dimension of overall fitness. Intense cardio can increase cortisol levels, which is not good for bodybuilding, but moderate cardio will keep your cardiovascular system in shape and not interfere with bodybuilding. It might even help burn body fat more effectively.

Just keep in mind that your cardio system is being exhausted during weight lifting, too. You will reap in the benefits of cardio by lifting as well.

[repsandsets]

Just keep in mind that your cardio system is being exhausted during weight lifting, too. You will reap in the benefits of cardio by lifting as well.

True - you can get a good cardio workout from weights - especially if you focus on endurance rep ranges and keep the rests short. Equally, most weight training for hypertrophy will be focusing more on the phosphocreatine and lactic acid energy systems - cardio will be less of the mix, and unlikely to be exhausted.

[Barzona]

Thank you guys. This is all very good input and has put my paranoia about cardio to rest.

Now, one last curiosity about it: should I, say, run on the treadmill BEFORE or AFTER my weightlifting workout?

[huijlk]

by looking at ur bf %. yes you do need to do cardio.
morning cardio before you eat.
if you're gonna do it with weightlifting, do it after so that you don't waste ur energy on cardio

[repsandsets]

Thank you guys. This is all very good input and has put my paranoia about cardio to rest.

Now, one last curiosity about it: should I, say, run on the treadmill BEFORE or AFTER my weightlifting workout?

It's most common for the cardio to be first in your program, since this saves time rather than doing a warm up, then weights, then cardio.

Having said that, I seem to recall there's some research to suggest cardio after is better than before to maximise strength gains. It does make sense to put the thing first in your program that you want to prioritize, since at the start of your program you're less tired, while in a busy life, things at the end of your program often get skipped.

Personally, I'd advise never doing cardio on an empty stomach, since this risks your body burning muscle mass for energy.

[nick0322]

by looking at ur bf %. yes you do need to do cardio.
morning cardio before you eat.
if you're gonna do it with weightlifting, do it after so that you don't waste ur energy on cardio

I thought cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach was the wosrt thing you could do

[repsandsets]

I thought cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach was the wosrt thing you could do

It is, unless you're an endurance athlete looking to train your fat burning energy pathway, and you're not too concerned about sacrificing a little muscle mass. (or in other words, only do this if you're after a marathon runner's physique).

[SugarFree1]

After an injury during a deployment, I ceased cardio training and stuck with just a good diet and lifting. Having my body fat accurately tested throughout (bodpod and dexa) I can say I saw less loss from LBM then previous diets where I was doing cardio. Currently I only add in cardio after I'm under 10% bf and struggling to go lower.

[nick0322]

After an injury during a deployment, I ceased cardio training and stuck with just a good diet and lifting. Having my body fat accurately tested throughout (bodpod and dexa) I can say I saw less loss from LBM then previous diets where I was doing cardio. Currently I only add in cardio after I'm under 10% bf and struggling to go lower.

not meaning to jump on this guys thread, but having never really lifted before and just starting out, ive limited my cardio a ton from what i was doing when i first got to Afghanistan. the only thing that sucks is when i do cardio, i have to run my ass off to keep my 1330 2 mile for the pt test lol.

what was your body fat percentage after your injury?

[SugarFree1]

Junk food and inactivity after OIF put me way above obesse after the injury. I was at 13% when I was hurt. At my fattest, testing isnt very accurate so I dont even want to quote a percentage but I went from a 46" waist back down to a 30" waist and 7.8% bf.