Confused about Cardio....

[callthedoctor]

What's the general opinion here....I've read here that it's very catabolic?

I hate cardio and would like an excuse not to do it, but when I don't do it, I feel fat...

I play basketball once a week (couple of hours) and jog on the treadmill about 2-3 times a week for a mile or two...is this two much?

How can I tell if I'm losing muscle mass? (tape measure?)

Thanks.

 

[Maverick]

body fat test

 

[callthedoctor]

Bump....

Also, I've now seen that you should NEVER do cardio before you lift....

Any validity to this....

I thought it is/was a good way to get your circulation and blood flow going...

Thoughts?

 

[Griz1]

call,

I would not do a cardio training period before weights. That would indeed sap your strength and not allow you to lift your max, therefore possibly affecting any gains from that day.

However, if you do MODERATE cardio for 4-6 min prior to lifting (warmup) it can actually help your lifting as it gets your blood circulating, heart pumping, 02 mechanisms working, etc. Mind you if you live an active day anyway, you may not do this. When you spend 8 hours driving a desk like me, you definately NEED some warmup prior to lifting.

 

[anthrax]

cardio can be a little catabolic or very catabolic

depends on what you're doing and what you eat before/after

Just like lifting

 

[big4life]

call,

I would not do a cardio training period before weights. That would indeed sap your strength and not allow you to lift your max, therefore possibly affecting any gains from that day.

However, if you do MODERATE cardio for 4-6 min prior to lifting (warmup) it can actually help your lifting as it gets your blood circulating, heart pumping, 02 mechanisms working, etc. Mind you if you live an active day anyway, you may not do this. When you spend 8 hours driving a desk like me, you definately NEED some warmup prior to lifting.

I agree with this. Warming up on the treadmill before lifting will get your blood flowing. Stay away from doing full cardio before lifting.

 

[Synpax]

Hi,

This would be a great question for a cardio board.

You haven't clearified the goal of your cardio. Is it for heart health? To loose weight? To be able to actually run faster/longer?

Do not do heavy cardio before lifting. I do my cardio in the early morning and my lifting in the afternoon.

Yet to get my muscles ready to lift and my heart pumping, I treadmill .5 miles at 6.5 miles per hour before and after my lifting session.

When I do run, I do run heavy but don't loose muscle because I have about 800 calories an hour before the run.

Let us know your goals and good luck.