best time for cardio

[bandwagon]

i've always heard that the best time for cardio is in the morning on an empty stomach, and that the 2nd best time is right after lifting. my trainer is telling me that the best time is right before lifting for about 20 min so that you continue to burn fat while lifting. he didn't say whether to have an empty stomach or not, and he said that both ideally would be done in the morning.

this contradicts what i've learned before since i thought that you needed to have the most energy while lifting and then you could burn fat after w/ cardio. what do you think the best time to do cardio is and why?

 

[Nonerz]

Your trainer is wrong.

Best time...AM if possible, at the least--after lifting

 

[bandwagon]

i've heard this from a lot of people, and tend to believe it myself, but i'd like to know why. does anyone know of any research or studies that can confirm or deny this?

thanks

 

[Griz1]

Fire your trainer.

 

[strangebrew]

well if you train in the morning... you should do cardio at night, or train at night and cardio in the morning. And if your just doing cardio on that day... do it in the morning and follow your normal pre and post workout nutrition. Never workout or do cardio on an empty stomach.

 

[thebrute]

i usually do mine after lifting. tb

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

for fat burning-- its really best to do cardio AFTER your weight training when youve burned thru your glycogen stores & youll be using your fat storage for fuel.

 

[bandwagon]

strangebrew, i thought it was better to do cardio on an empty stomach in the morning because othewise you would burn the cals you just ate instead of the bodyfat? why aren't you supposed to do cardio on an empty stomach?

does anyone know if any studies have been done that back up when the most effective time to do cardio is?

thanks

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I got the best results when I performed my cardio on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. This helped me reach the goals I set for fat burning at the time.

 

[Nonerz]

why? because it works! sorry, I'm not that motivated to dig up a study...maybe someone else will.

I'm thinking that it keeps your metabolism up during the day. I take a 5 AM spin class every Wednesday and I seem to have more energy throughout the day.

Honestly, I wouldn't lose sleep over this...what are you currently doing? Is it working?

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

its really not that effective to do cardio on an empty stomach-- thats a really old myth...if your working hard (80% of your max) for at least 30 minutes-- you will burn out or cant maintain that intensitylevel w/o some carbs in your system.

if your jogging or doing an easy steady pace run-- than empty stomach is ok.

 

[strangebrew]

strangebrew, i thought it was better to do cardio on an empty stomach in the morning because othewise you would burn the cals you just ate instead of the bodyfat? why aren't you supposed to do cardio on an empty stomach?

does anyone know if any studies have been done that back up when the most effective time to do cardio is?

thanks

well, after 8 or however many hours you sleep your body is gonna be in some serious need of nutrients. I guess I dont see the point in running right after you've gone that long without food. Just eat some cereal and a protein shake, then run.

 

[bandwagon]

no sleep loss... just wondered if anyone knew the text book answer out of curiosity.

i am doing cardio in the early evenings right now, and will continue to do that. i lift either right before the cardio or in the morning.

in my experience, it doesn't really seem to matter that much whether cardio is done in the am or pm or before or after lifting, as long as it's done often and to 80% of my max (as MsBH said).

since so many peeps have diff and sometimes contradicting opinions, though, i wonder if anyone can back up their claim of when the optimum time for fat burning is.

 

[strangebrew]

no sleep loss... just wondered if anyone knew the text book answer out of curiosity.

i am doing cardio in the early evenings right now, and will continue to do that. i lift either right before the cardio or in the morning.

in my experience, it doesn't really seem to matter that much whether cardio is done in the am or pm or before or after lifting, as long as it's done often and to 80% of my max (as MsBH said).

since so many peeps have diff and sometimes contradicting opinions, though, i wonder if anyone can back up their claim of when the optimum time for fat burning is.

I think short intense sessions are ideal for fat burning, just like they are for weight lifting. Why would you do cardio before or after you lift? after you do one, your not gonna be able to do the other with 100% intensity.