How bad is catabolism, really

[Legion Kreinak2]

I always hear people talking about the catabolic effect of cortisol being released into your system after too much exercise is done, which can then go and breakdown proteins from the muscle tissue and reduce muscle mass.

Now, in all honesty, how bad is catabolism really? I mean, I understand alot of people here are concerned about losing mass considering it revolves around the bodybuilder/powerlifting lifestyle, and every bit of mass counts, but even still... don't people take it too far?

I mean I hear not to do more than 40 minutes of cardio tops when trying to maintain mass. Already you hear about having to stick with the weight training and eating a certain number of calories. Now there's an entire controversey on why any type of physical activity outside of the things you must do daily, and lifting, are harmful to your physique.

Has anyone here had an actual experience where they've done alot of cardio, and lost mass? Was the amount lost noticable, if any? It's a bit ridiculous how people are so anal about it.

Not to say I don't understand why, but for someone looking to have a nice looking body, but who still wants to play sports, or swim, or hike or do whatever when he feels like it -- is catabolism that big a deal? Or so long as training is kept a priority and the nutrition is good, the gains will come and then stay?

 

[jeremys]

it's all about what YOU want to do. i won't even go out without having a meal readily available for fear of catabolism.

yeah, it can get anal, but if you're a perfectionist about things like this, it can only make your progress better.

 

[DrBones]

I personally think most people are a little over board on their fear of catabolism....

I did 45 minutes of cardio a day for 3 months, and consistantly watched my weights go up as if I was doing no cardio...
Obviously you will get better gains when bulking... but I think too much emphasis is put on preventing catabolism when cutting. Even if you do lose a little muscle, it will be a very insignificant ammount, which you will more than gain back when you return to bulking..... I'd say, worst case scenario, its like 3 steps forward, and 1 step back.... You've still gained 2 steps... So why complain about it?

 

[Legion Kreinak2]

What do you think about when one decided to maintain, no longer bulk or return?

Will those insignificant amounts continue to pile on until you've lost most all the mass you gained? I don't know how that can really happen though. Look at all athletes that stay in good shape, and can continue to be muscular...

 

[coolcolj]

overrated, I regularly train over 1.5 hours, I'm not shrinking

 

[WarriorPL]

I also train a good hour to hour and a half.

How do you know if you're im catabolism?

 

[nikkita]

Catabolism comes if someone trains for too long without the proper nutrients, such as when you don't sleep enough and don't eat right... not just muscle mass can be lost but your performance declines as well. But as you mentioned "so long as training is kept a priority and the nutrition is good, the gains will come and then stay".

 

[RusPA81]

Glutamine also helps to reduce catabolism, especially while cutting(Although I have never personally really tried cutting).

 

[Legion Kreinak2]

I heard that when you take glutamine, most of it really isn't absorbed into the body, so it ends up being a waste of your money.

Somewhere else, I've also read that glutamine is useless regardless.

I don't support either, not do I support glutamine simply because I don't know. I've yet to try it.

 

[Fatty4You]

Cortisol is a hormone that breaks down protien. Cortisol concentrations are greatest from mild weight and higher volume exercise. Often, exercise that produces the most lactic acid build up will also create the highest cortisol release.

HOWEVER, such exercise - that produces the greatest lactic acid build up - say with 1 min rests and multi sets of 10RM - will also produce the greatest release of Growth Hormone which is highly anabolic.

In order for muscle to grow, there has to be some sort of remodeling of the protien structure - muscle damage, inflamatory response, rebuilding or protiens, incorporation of new protiens into sacromeres.

The cortisol / Growth hormone response MAY be very important to this muscle remodeling process and help in hypertrophy.

-Fatty