CARDIO is a WASTE of TIME and ENERGY!!!

[Themachine01]

Who here believes this? I have been told this more than once by people on this board and others, but have yet to have anyone back it up, or let out their secret. I find that cardio is the only way to drop bf for me. If this is a true statement in some eyes, what can be done in place of it, because im sure we can all agree, cardio is not the funnest shit in the world. If there is a way around this please let me know.

 

[BrickGirl]

I only do cardio 4-5 weeks out from contest. Diet should be the main thing used, cardio should be used for sticking points or platue's in your "cutting" regimen.

 

[Seth]

Dieting sucks – I would rather run and work up a sweat then starve.

And I don’t care how hard you lift, you can not maintain the intensity to burn the same calories as you car running.

 

[JG1]

I'd rather drop my calories by another 400 or so then spend and hour on the treadmill first thing in the morning.

 

[FLmuscles]

Cardio does have its place, but I too avoid overdoing it. When bulking, I only do very limited cardio--Walk to the gym (12-14min's) and back on SOME days, mow the yard, incidental stuff like that. When cutting, it is definitely better to cut with modest calorie deficit, carb cycling, etc., then to do tons of cardio as excess cardio WILL burn off muscle in addition to fat! I'm cutting right now and will do just modest cardio in the am, before I eat, when your body is most iin fat-burning mode; I'll take my dog for a long brisk walk, or I'll walk to the gym, do just 20 min's on a bike set to Fat-Burner mode (montiors heart rate to 70%) and walk home--only a few times a week.

THe key to cardio is use it when needed to burn some fat, but DON'T OVERDO it or you'll end up looking like a marathon runner instead of a bodybuilder!

 

[Enigmaxxx7]

Diet + Cardio = Lower Body Fat

 

[Themachine01]

I'd rather drop my calories by another 400 or so then spend and hour on the treadmill first thing in the morning.

I really dont think that dropping 400 calories from a diet will have the same effect as an hour on the treadmill. If that works for you then god bless you, but with my metabolism it just isnt good enough.

Im waiting for a reply from Mr. Nelson on this.

 

[njspin]

Cardio

Your heart is a muscle too, and needs to be worked as well. Builds enfurance for one. Cardio is for your heart, like the bench is for your chest.
Cardio and legs...no one wants to do either, but everyone wants to be big. You'll end up looking like a big Mack truck driving around on bicycle tires, and not enough gas to get anywhere.

 

[BrickGirl]

Cardio for fat loss and cardio for a healthy heart are 2 different things

 

[40butpumpin]

Proper diet = lower BF.

"Combined anerobic and aerobic training can reduce the gain in muscle girth" [1] and maximum strength [1, 2, 3].

1. Craig, B.W., J. Lucas, R. Pohlman and H. Stelling. The effects of running, weightlifting and a combination of both on growth hormone release. J. Appl. Sport Sci. Res. 5(4): 198-203. 1991

2. Hadmann, R. The available glycogen in man and the connection between rate of oxygen intake and carbohydrate usage. Acta Physiol. Scand. 40:305-330. 1957

3. Hickson, R.C. Interference of strength development by simultaneously training for strength and endurance. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 215:255-263. 1980

The most lasting fat loss 'gains' are the ones that occur by means of negative calorie balance over time. Also, this will have the least negative impact in a catabolic sense.

Oops, I forgot to mention that these references are through Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning (NSCA), Thomas R. Baechle, Roger W. Earle (Editors), 2nd Ed.