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Cardio & muscles

trudie_b
trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay, new question. I'm trying to figure out a way to get in some cardio every day to help with winter depression, without sacrificing my weight training.

If I did 30 minutes cardio a day, which is just about long enough to get the mental health benefits, would that impact negatively on my efforts to build muscle? Or is that short enough to be okay?

Replies

  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    I do 30 minutes of cardio after every strength training session no problem. In fact I'd say it's made my sessions better as I recover more between sets and don't feel so beat down by the end of it anymore.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    if you'er adding in cardio, you just need to make sure you eat the calories burnt so that you're still in a surplus
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    I do a split of cardio and weights every day as well. It depends on the activity I am doing for example last night I had Muay Thai which is more cardio/overall focus and body strength so I lifted weights during the day. The night before I was doing a weight training class so I did a cardio class that day. If I am just in the gym (no classes) I usually run for 30 first, then lift for 30. Best of both :smiley:
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    Mycophilia wrote: »
    I do 30 minutes of cardio after every strength training session no problem. In fact I'd say it's made my sessions better as I recover more between sets and don't feel so beat down by the end of it anymore.

    I agree. I find 20-30 minutes of cardio after strength training makes me feel better overall than if I go without. Maybe because it keeps me moving and I don't seize up as much after some heavy lifting. :)
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    It takes a ridiculous amount of cardio along with a steep deficit to impact your weight lifting. That whole things has been blown way out of proportion.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    30 minutes is about right. I like doing 10 minutes before and 20 minutes after.
  • Gimsteinn
    Gimsteinn Posts: 7,678 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    It takes a ridiculous amount of cardio along with a steep deficit to impact your weight lifting. That whole things has been blown way out of proportion.

    What he said.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    That sounds fine. See how it goes, pay attention to your body and recovery.. if you think it is affecting your lifting, dial it back a bit.
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    I do 30 minutes of cardio daily and it hasn't hurt my muscle building at all. I def feel more fit than when I was doing little to no cardio.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    As others have mentioned - as long as you fuel it, you should be fine. I'd think you probably wouldn't want to go too heavy/fast/intense with the cardio, but 30 minutes at a moderate-brisk pace would probably be fine.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,354 Member
    trudie_b wrote: »
    Okay, new question. I'm trying to figure out a way to get in some cardio every day to help with winter depression, without sacrificing my weight training.

    If I did 30 minutes cardio a day, which is just about long enough to get the mental health benefits, would that impact negatively on my efforts to build muscle? Or is that short enough to be okay?

    Probably not. I would make sure you are eating the calories burned by that cardio though.
  • trudie_b
    trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    It takes a ridiculous amount of cardio along with a steep deficit to impact your weight lifting. That whole things has been blown way out of proportion.

    Fabulous, thank you!
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    As long as cardio doesn't effect the goals you've set for progress, it's not too much.

    Maybe by defining your goals, we can answer your question better.
  • trudie_b
    trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    trudie_b wrote: »
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.

    To be fair(minor nitpick) the basic Pistol is a primarily a skill/core/balance strength exercise rather than pure strength.
  • trudie_b
    trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
    Oh, is it?
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    trudie_b wrote: »
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.

    To be fair(minor nitpick) the basic Pistol is a primarily a skill/core/balance strength exercise rather than pure strength.

    Very nit picky. Just because it has a lot of other factors why would you try and discourage someone from desiring to achieve one and build ALL those capabilities?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    trudie_b wrote: »
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.

    i'd love to be able to pistol squat, but years of wearing high heels means i have rubbish range of motion and flexibility in my legs so i can get about half way down and and i get stuck!
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    edited January 2017
    rybo wrote: »
    trudie_b wrote: »
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.

    To be fair(minor nitpick) the basic Pistol is a primarily a skill/core/balance strength exercise rather than pure strength.

    Very nit picky. Just because it has a lot of other factors why would you try and discourage someone from desiring to achieve one and build ALL those capabilities?

    First, nothing I said was disparaging or discouraging.

    In general, strength skills are more useful and impressive than pure strength.

    The exercise I am doing in my profile photo is a strength skill. It requires very little actual strength. But it is quite impressive.

    Pushups are a strength skill, Bench press is not.

    Bottom line is if you can do ATG squat with BW, you have the strength to do a pistol.

    Thus. "getting strong enough to do a pistol" isn't a real thing.
  • trudie_b
    trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
    Pushups are a strength skill, Bench press is not.

    Tell me more, I'm intrigued.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    edited January 2017
    trudie_b wrote: »
    Pushups are a strength skill, Bench press is not.

    Tell me more, I'm intrigued.

    Bench Press is a pure strength exercise, Pushups require a certain level of strength, but like walking, after a certain point do not increase total strength.

    Just because you have the arm/shoulder strength to do a pushup(.5-.75 bodyweight bar press) doesn't mean you'll be able to do a pushup, because just like the pistol, there are core strength engagements that must be learned.

    Once you can do a standard pushup(or 30) progressing to a one armed variant can be done relatively quickly.

    Ditto for Pistols.

    As a skill, the only way to do it. Is to do it. Dragon door and Strongfirst have some quality guides on pistol progressions. Assuming you already have the requisite strength/flexibility/mobility (ATG Squat is a good test) progressing to a pistol can be done relatively quickly.

    I am, as I stated above, a huge fan of strength skills, Last year I spent some time working towards OAOL PU(one arm one leg pushup) Which is a strength skill, but also a strength exercise(like the standard Pullup)

    Back to the pistol

    http://www.strongfirst.com/one-good-rep-perform-perfect-pistol/
    http://www.strongfirst.com/how-to-build-up-to-100-consecutive-pistols/
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    trudie_b wrote: »
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.

    To be fair(minor nitpick) the basic Pistol is a primarily a skill/core/balance strength exercise rather than pure strength.

    Very nit picky. Just because it has a lot of other factors why would you try and discourage someone from desiring to achieve one and build ALL those capabilities?

    First, nothing I said was disparaging or discouraging.

    In general, strength skills are more useful and impressive than pure strength.

    The exercise I am doing in my profile photo is a strength skill. It requires very little actual strength. But it is quite impressive.

    Pushups are a strength skill, Bench press is not.

    Bottom line is if you can do ATG squat with BW, you have the strength to do a pistol.

    Thus. "getting strong enough to do a pistol" isn't a real thing.

    My apologies for misinterpreting your tone. So often around here people can be disparaging towards bodyweight movements, although it has been less often. But it seems we are in much more agreement than I'd thought.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    rybo wrote: »
    trudie_b wrote: »
    I want to build muscle, get leaner, and most importantly of all, get stronger. By the end of this year I'd like to be strong enough to do pull-ups, pistol squats, improve my bench press weight, etc.

    To be fair(minor nitpick) the basic Pistol is a primarily a skill/core/balance strength exercise rather than pure strength.

    Very nit picky. Just because it has a lot of other factors why would you try and discourage someone from desiring to achieve one and build ALL those capabilities?

    First, nothing I said was disparaging or discouraging.

    In general, strength skills are more useful and impressive than pure strength.

    The exercise I am doing in my profile photo is a strength skill. It requires very little actual strength. But it is quite impressive.

    Pushups are a strength skill, Bench press is not.

    Bottom line is if you can do ATG squat with BW, you have the strength to do a pistol.

    Thus. "getting strong enough to do a pistol" isn't a real thing.

    My apologies for misinterpreting your tone. So often around here people can be disparaging towards bodyweight movements, although it has been less often. But it seems we are in much more agreement than I'd thought.

    No worries I'm generally fairly direct and accustomed to being misunderstood. I'm currently recovering from aggravating my knee running, My profile pic is from last year(at about 249) Today I'm about 232. I'm hoping the weight loss helps with the recovery since the doc and PT say there's nothing injured.
  • trudie_b
    trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
    Fascinating, thank you so much!
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Hope it was helpful. I tend to ramble.
  • trudie_b
    trudie_b Posts: 230 Member
    Extremely!!! I'm a bit funny in the gym, I don't like to talk, even when the gyms personal trainer comes over and starts chatting. But at the same time, I'm desperate to learn as much as I can from experienced lifters. So I'm grateful for anything I learn here.
This discussion has been closed.