Too much cardio?

[OUfan]

For the past few weeks, I have been doing 45 min of medium-intensity cardio in the morning and evening, M-F along with once during the weekend. This week I decided to try HIIT under this program

http://www.musclemedia.com/training/hiit_table.asp

I also lift every evening M-F. So now I am thinking of doing this:

Monday AM - HIIT PM - 30 min low-med cardio
Tuesday AM - 45 min low-med cardio
-repeat/alternate through Friday

My goal at this point is cutting while losing as little muscle as possible (which is why I am lifting heavy and eating a lot of protein, probably 60/25/15).

So my question, is this new plan still too much cardio considering the HIIT? The author seemed to suggest doing no other cardio than those 3 sessions per week, and even to do it on non-lift days. I realize once I get farther along in the program (it ranges from 4-min to 15-min over 8 weeks) the answer may be obvious, but right now its just mentally difficult for me to go from about 500 minutes of cardio a week to 12 and feel like I am going to see results. But if my current plan is wasting time or too catabolic, I need to hear it! Thanks guys.

 

[Svetislav_aka_Waczlaff]

don't read your link but in my opinon, it is not possible to do high intensity cardio AND intensity weightlifting on the same day ... when you do both - once or both will not being high intensive enough....

also not working when you alternate both every day without rest days, you will be burning out after a couple of days...

in the past I did two HIIT session on the treatmill for 25-30minutes, per week beside 3 sessions of weightlifting (5x5 madcow template for advanced) - at all this was too much for my legs when you squat 3x per week,also felt very burnout after three weeks.....

when you want to be good or the best you have to concentrate only on one point ...when your goal is only cutting and no good performances -which could be a problem later for your motivation- you have to find a good mix of both, maybe 1xHIIT, 1xlow intensive cardio (long run over 60-90min) and 2-3 high frequenced lifting session, let decide your feeling afterwards, and don't forget : have fun with it... !

EDIT : "read" the link - the frequence here is 30sec of jogging and 30sec. of sprinting - hmm, wonder how this should be possible for over a time of 15minutes, this will be very hard that I can't believe that in the last intervalls someone will really 'sprints'
normally sprinting is an ANaerobic 'factor' and for this normally should be trained with the 1:3 formula, so 30sec of sprints and 90sec of slow jogging or 60sec of sprinting and 180sec of jogging

 

[OUfan]

I am going about 90% of my max speed on the sprints, but I am only doing 4 minutes. I will probably do the 1:3 formula as I get closer to 15 minutes (won't have a choice I'm sure). My weight training isn't as intensive as the 5 x 5, but I do certain compound exercises (squats, bench) but only 1-2 times/week. I will have to schedule the HIIT around leg day, as I can already tell that will be an issue.

in the past I did two HIIT session on the treatmill for 25-30minutes

Were you doing the 1:3 while doing this? What intensity were you doing this at? It would seem pretty killer going 90%+.

 

[gettnlarge01]

Post up stats and where you want to get to bf% and weight wise.

 

[OUfan]

Post up stats and where you want to get to bf% and weight wise.

6'1
247 lbs

I haven't had BF measured in awhile, I will see if I can get it done tonight. From like 1998-2002 I lifted heavy but rarely did cardio and had a horrible diet, I ate a lot but lots of fats, sugars, etc. So my legs and arms are very lean, back is fairly lean, all my fat is in my chest/stomach. For now I will guess I am maybe 23% BF, I would like to get down to 12%. I'm not sure I care what weight I end up at, I have been doing cardio/lifting for about a month now and have lost 13 lbs total weight but I clearly see added muscle and fat loss, so I believe most from fat.

 

[al420]

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