Cardio in the mornings

[Thom]

Hey
I haven't done cardio in a veeery long time, and I'm thinking of starting up a little bit. The only time that I actually have time for it is in the mornings before going to work. Since it usually goes about ten hours since I last ate when I wake up, I don't want to do cardio without any fuel cause that will probably go out on muscletissue, right..??
If so, what do you recommend ingesting before cardio? Some high GI carbs and some whey protein maybe? I'm thinking 45 minutes at a moderate pace.

thanks for any input

 

[bignascarfans]

I have a bananna on the way to the gym every morning. If I don't have one I feel like crap and have a horrible workout.

 

[Dposey]

Supposedly if you do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach it's actually the best time to burn fat. You haven't eaten anything in a long time so it jumps right on that stored body fat for fuel. Can someone verify this?

 

[Cynical Simian]

Supposedly if you do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach it's actually the best time to burn fat. You haven't eaten anything in a long time so it jumps right on that stored body fat for fuel. Can someone verify this?

Fasted, low-intensity cardio is good for direct fat oxidation, if that's what you're referring to. The cardio debate will probably never end, and I'm partial to HIIT for a variety of reasons, but if you're just looking to burn a large number of calories during the exercise session itself with a fairly high proportion of them coming from fat, this is correct.

 

[lifersfc]

Simian-

Is HIIT still ok on an empty stomach?

 

[Cynical Simian]

Short answer: no. Have some protein and carbs before HIIT and get your negative caloric balance by cutting calories elsewhere.

 

[Thom]

I'm gonna do it for my heart, mood and cardiovascular, not for fatburning.
I think I'm gonna go for 45 min at 120-130 BPM HR three times per week before work. A smaller whey shake and maybe some fast carbs, like maltodextrin, rasins or a banana should do it right?