How much is too much cardio?

[X_Rick_X]

I have a simple program I have been fallowing for the past 3 weeks now.

Monday (Heavy) – Chest / Shoulders / Triceps’s: 30min Cardio

Tuesday (Light)– Back / Biceps / Legs 30min Cardio

Wednesday – Off Day: 60min + Cardio

Thursday (Light) – Chest / Shoulders / Triceps’s: 30min Cardio

Friday (Heavy)– Back / Biceps’s / Legs 30 min Cardio

Heavy days I lift 6/10 reps and 3-4 sets

Light days I Lift 12/15 reps and 4 sets

I have been told that I’m wasting my time with that much cardio; it’s just a waste.

Any Truth to that?

 

[KillahBee]

also, what are your goals? I am cutting right now and do HIIT 4-5 times a week and some then walk on the treadmill for about 45 minutes on the 6th day. But I don't lose the weight too easily (damn metabolism). I was talking to a buddy of mine the other day who "complained" that he can't do more than 2 days of cardio or he loses weight (cry me a friggin river). It depends on the person and their goals, IMO.

 

[WoodyAllen]

I'm probably doing too much cardio right now but I'm absolutely paranoid of gaining fat (former fat guy). I had weeks where I logged over 7500 calories burned on the elliptical trainer. That combined with heavy lifting and no deconditioning periods in over 9 months drove me to what was either overtraining or the brink of it. I'm down to 5000 cals/week now-baby steps.

 

[Musclegirlaus]

l also have that trouble of balancing cardio and muscle gaining. l do cardio ~ 60 min every day (usually in the morning) which is rpm (spinning class) and am paranoid about losing muscle.. l do weights in the afternoon.. is this too much??

 

[USMC fighter]

for me 40 minutes a day is enough to keep my bodyfat% in the single digits, but i keep it real intense, around 170 beats per minute.

 

[cwc73]

Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm Strategic Deconditioning from HST. I am running 2 days on and 1 off. Usually 1-2 miles per day. I am preparing for an AF PFT though. I dropped considerable time off of my run time. The fastest I have ever run the 1.5 mile was 10:53 on an 1/8 mile track. If I didn't skip a lap yesterday, I ran a 10:17. I hope I can beat that today, but I drank 2 beers yesterday afternoon. I'm shooting for less than 9:37 on the 1.5 mile by next summer.

 

[USMC fighter]

hey cwc those are really good times! im still trying to get my 3 mile under 21 mins flat. ive been stuck at 21mins forever

 

[cwc73]

no way in hell do I think I could do that. I give it to you jarheads, you all are in the best shape of all of the services. Air Force Standards are so low, but I guess that is good for me because I don't consider myself fast. With a 10:12 or better run and a max on the pushups, situps, and waist measurement, I will make a 95 out of 100 on the PFT. I just wish I had the stamina or determination of you marines.
Hooah!

 

[triplej220]

I used to do the 2 mile for the Army APFT in 12:30 unfortunately two knee surgeries later i won't be able to run on the track anymore.....oh well there is always an elliptical...

 

[cwc73]

thats freaking flying too. what happened to your knees?