To eat or not to eat for morning cardio???

**Daimbert** · 06-22-2003, 11:12 PM

Hello all am been reading the forum trying to answer this question. I only have time to do cardio in the morning especially right after I wake up or maybe an hour after I wake up. Right now am in a cutting routine to reduce body-fat. I've worked hard in gaining muscle and am scared of loosing it. Now alot of people say doing cardio in the morning on an empty stomach is the best way. The thing that confuses me that people also say that doing this is the best way to loose muscle as well. I don't want to loose my muscle I worked hard for it (grin). If possible I want to spare it. So should I eat something before my cardio work-out which consist of about 20-30 min cardio at 70-80% heart rate as well as 3 times a week of HIIT?? And what's the best food to eat before this cardio workout knowing that I can have as much as an 1 1/2 of time before I can do it, although I usually just wake up start running within 30 mins. And right after the workout what should I eat I've heard dextrose with whey and whey with oatmeal. Please help am coooonffffuuusseed!!

**defcon** · 06-23-2003, 06:22 AM

i really need to know the answer to this.. i hear stong arguments from both sides of the fence.. i seen great "weight" loss doing cardio on an empty tank, but my lifts droped down in pounds so i prolly lost a lot of muscle.. and thats not a good thing! so does anyone know a lot about this topic to help us both out pls? thanx

**Fame** · 06-23-2003, 08:40 AM

An answer for you both...

Read the thread called "Morning Cardio" at the top of this forum, it talks about different nutritional aspects as well as different opinions on what forms of cardio are optimal. The bottom line is that most agree that you SHOULD eat before cardio, you should treat it the same as a workout session.

Read up fellas
I hope this helps
-Fame-

**defcon** · 06-23-2003, 08:48 AM

Yeah.. ive alrdy read it.. and currently when i do cardio i eat atleast some protein 30-45 mins before mourning cardio..

**janderstein** · 06-23-2003, 11:09 AM

defcon, I am not one to be afraid of fasted state cardio, I have done it at least once a week for quite some time now, and have seen no muscle loss, and I actually feel that it really gives me that shredded look. I always make sure that I take some glutamine before hand, and as soon as I am done it is straight home for some breakfast. I think it is very beneficial and so not shun it.

**derekmac** · 06-23-2003, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by janderstein
defcon, I am not one to be afraid of fasted state cardio, I have done it at least once a week for quite some time now, and have seen no muscle loss, and I actually feel that it really gives me that shredded look. I always make sure that I take some glutamine before hand, and as soon as I am done it is straight home for some breakfast. I think it is very beneficial and so not shun it.

Taking the glutamine is helpful, but I still believe the best way to preserve your muscle mass is to eat some protein/carbs before your workout.

**beatphats** · 06-23-2003, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by janderstein
defcon, I am not one to be afraid of fasted state cardio, I have done it at least once a week for quite some time now, and have seen no muscle loss, and I actually feel that it really gives me that shredded look. I always make sure that I take some glutamine before hand, and as soon as I am done it is straight home for some breakfast. I think it is very beneficial and so not shun it.

Exactly, I take these before a morning cardio.

2 Tbsp Flax/Hemp Oil
5Egg Whites or protein drink
10g Glutamine

**janderstein** · 06-23-2003, 11:26 AM

I guess it is all in what you are looking for, if you want to burn that little bit of pesky body fat , and are not afraid of possibly burning muscle, than dont eat, if you are afraid to waste muscle than get something in you.

**boffo234** · 06-23-2003, 11:32 AM

start the cardio, and have a glutamine + protein shake in the cup holder to sip through it (if doing low-moderate intensity)

just an idea

**str8flexed** · 06-23-2003, 02:05 PM

"i feel i have no muscle loss"

wow, it's good to know that you can decipher all of the intracies of your body's biochemistry you should let some of the scientific institutions know... they'd love to use you for testing

testor: how do you feel?

"well I think my mitochondrial activity in the lower portion of the left side of my big toe has slowed as i believe it may be due to uncoupling of the proton gradient of the inner mitochondrial membrane"

testor: interesting... how did you figure that out.

"I dunno, just FELT like it"

fasted state cardio is a dogmatic myth perpetuated by weider and people with gym PhD's who practice pseudo science. And to think all of the time i put in on that damn thread and people still refuse to listen.

Layne *beats head on table*

**hausgrl** · 06-23-2003, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by Daimbert
Hello all am been reading the forum trying to answer this question. I only have time to do cardio in the morning especially right after I wake up or maybe an hour after I wake up. Right now am in a cutting routine to reduce body-fat. I've worked hard in gaining muscle and am scared of loosing it. Now alot of people say doing cardio in the morning on an empty stomach is the best way. The thing that confuses me that people also say that doing this is the best way to loose muscle as well. I don't want to loose my muscle I worked hard for it (grin). If possible I want to spare it. So should I eat something before my cardio work-out which consist of about 20-30 min cardio at 70-80% heart rate as well as 3 times a week of HIIT?? And what's the best food to eat before this cardio workout knowing that I can have as much as an 1 1/2 of time before I can do it, although I usually just wake up start running within 30 mins. And right after the workout what should I eat I've heard dextrose with whey and whey with oatmeal. Please help am coooonffffuuusseed!!

morning cardio on empty can be very beneficial to fat loss. the key however is to do it properly. 20 - 30 minutes at a light - moderate level of intensity [i.e. a brisk walk] will not put you at risk for muscle loss. anything above & beyond 30 minutes and at an intensity above moderate will.

i have been doing it for several years and have maintained my muscle mass.

**spider** · 06-23-2003, 02:30 PM

if you are in ketosis, running on empty is ok

but if you are running on carbs (most people) you should have at least some glutamine

**RippedUp** · 06-23-2003, 02:31 PM

Eventhough your blood sugar might be low in the morning, your liver/muscle glycogen is not empty, and will be used along with fat for energy.

Do your cardio on empty stomach, then have a good meal soon afterwards. (oatmeal + lean protein)

**str8flexed** · 06-23-2003, 02:58 PM

*continues to pound head on desk*

god, why do i even bother trying to help anymore

**hausgrl** · 06-23-2003, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by str8flexed
*continues to pound head on desk*

god, why do i even bother trying to help anymore

you need to understand that some things work for some people, while they don't work for others. trial & error.

i haven't even bothered to read the morning cardio thread on this board - as it seems with debated issues such as this, things get too heated and too much condescending & differing opinions are devulged by those who know little, or only know through other posts [re: not solid, researched, educated data]. if you have something intelligent to back up & add to your post, i'd love to read it in here.

but again, i stand by my post as i've tested it to be true [through use of documenting my progress & success]. the key is moderation.

**hausgrl** · 06-23-2003, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by spider
if you are in ketosis, running on empty is ok

but if you are running on carbs (most people) you should have at least some glutamine

running is not a good form of cardio on empty. keep it to a moderate level of intensity.

**bachovas** · 06-23-2003, 03:19 PM

To me, HIIT without food = crappy perfomance = bad workout = waste of time.

Now, low/mid intensity walking/jogging, that's a whole different story.

**str8flexed** · 06-23-2003, 03:23 PM

people are genetically 99.99% identical... when someone says what works for one doesn't work for another... it is usually (not always) but usually a form of excuse.

HIIT has many many many more benefits than low or moderate intensity cardio. When will people realize that the substrate utilized during cardio DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE it is the overall calorie deficit and metabolic impact made by the cardio vascular work that makes all the difference.

**hausgrl** · 06-23-2003, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by str8flexed
people are genetically 99.99% identical... when someone says what works for one doesn't work for another... it is usually (not always) but usually a form of excuse.

i disagree with you there and i'd like you to back that up with some research stats if possible.

Originally posted by str8flexed
HIIT has many many many more benefits than low or moderate intensity cardio. When will people realize that the substrate utilized during cardio DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE it is the overall calorie deficit and metabolic impact made by the cardio vascular work that makes all the difference.

i never disagreed with you on the immense benefits of including HIIT into ones' cardio plan. i wasn't, however, discussing the greater benefits of one or the other, and the initial poster was speaking specifically of morning cardio.

lesson # 238473: just because you read it on the internet doesn't mean it holds true.

bach - HIIT should NEVER be done on empty.

**str8flexed** · 06-23-2003, 10:17 PM

now i have to go dig up my genetics book

**Gareth** · 06-23-2003, 10:30 PM

Originally posted by hausgrl
you need to understand that some things work for some people, while they don't work for others. trial & error.

I think the only thing these people have tried is fasted state cardio. Because it "works", they fear trying something new. Hey thats fine. But why not give the alternative a go as well.

If its going to give the same if not better result then why starve?

**str8flexed** · 06-24-2003, 06:25 AM

Originally posted by Gareth
I think the only thing these people have tried is fasted state cardio. Because it "works", they fear trying something new. Hey thats fine. But why not give the alternative a go as well.

If its going to give the same if not better result then why starve?

because it is bodybuilding dogma

**hausgrl** · 06-24-2003, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by str8flexed
now i have to go dig up my genetics book

**str8flexed** · 06-24-2003, 08:40 AM

Originally posted by hausgrl

\

that's not funny... do you know how many books and scientific journal's that's buried under?

Layne "no that's not mt. everest, it's my pile of biochemistry books from college"

**blinkboy99** · 06-24-2003, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by spider
if you are in ketosis, running on empty is ok

but if you are running on carbs (most people) you should have at least some glutamine

y if ketosis? i would think since there r no carbs in ur system cardio would be ok anytime cause ur body is already using fat for fuel

**boffo234** · 06-24-2003, 09:18 AM

I have done HIIT (Layne's routine), and yeah it's hard, yeah it's fast, and yeah it can hurt, but I tell you what.... it's worth not having to goto the gym and spend 30-40 minutes walkin with the old ladies on the treadmills(that is if your gym has old ladies... and that you do your HIIT on the track). I RAMBLE!!

Man this post was useless.

Look at me I'M AN ATTENTION WHORE!

**str8flexed** · 06-24-2003, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by blinkboy99
y if ketosis? i would think since there r no carbs in ur system cardio would be ok anytime cause ur body is already using fat for fuel

THE SUBSTRATE UTILIZED DURING EXERICSE IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE CALORIC DEFICIT CREATED BY THAT ACTIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

**rottie** · 06-24-2003, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by str8flexed
THE SUBSTRATE UTILIZED DURING EXERICSE IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE CALORIC DEFICIT CREATED BY THAT ACTIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

What Layne is trying to tell you here is it doesnt matter what the fuel is, its the caloric deficit, and the metabolic boost from the cardio that is important. I agree.

**Daimbert** · 06-24-2003, 12:15 PM

O.k O.k but what am asking is what to eat before such a hard morning workout.

**pinoy** · 06-24-2003, 12:20 PM

HIIT - have something to eat beforehand
low intensity cardio - can be done on fasted state

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