Get Off That Treadmill! Cardio is Counterproductive!

drgndancer

I work out 4 hrs a day/ 6 days a week. burn 3000-4000 calories per workout. It's what works for me, and I lose 2.5 to 3 pounds a week generally. So I think I'll just stick with my cardio, thanks.

You're doing whatnow? I don't burn that running a full marathon.

Agreed. My most recent stats: 4hrs 41min marathon; cals burned 3829 (using an HRM)

I actually would like to know your secret... unless you are in the gym for 8hrs on those four days or a contestant on the Biggest Loser... both options are out for me.

It's feasible. At right around 200 pounds I burn about 2000 calories doing a half marathon in a little under 2 hours. She needed to lose 180 when she started, which made her somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Out weighing me by around a hundred pounds is going to compensate for the lack of intensity (I rather doubt she was running 13 miles at an 8:45 pace, but at three hundred pounds she doesn't need to). As she's lost weight the number has probably been going down, but the range is feasible.

That said I *seriously* question the long term viability of four hours of cardio six days a week as a weight loss strategy. Unless you're a member of the idle wealthy class, and can completely avoid injury there's no way you can maintain such a strategy long term. I have a hard enough time finding the 2-3 hours I need for a long run once a week, let alone another hour on top of that 6 days a week.

raiderrodney

I wouldn't recommend doing any more cardio than you need to warm up a bit before a heavy lifting day. But if you want to jump on the treadmill post lift I can't see a problem with it. That being said, I typically lift 2-3 times a week and work in some cardio days on my other free days.

mmapags

There's a question here. Is it really possible to efficiently achive catabolic (fat burning) and anabolic (muscle building) processes at the same time? As with everything fitness related, I've read every side of the argument and have found no good agreement. But it makes sense to me that trying to do both at the same time is a bit counterproductive....so I'm cardio only for now to strip back the blubber. Once I'm down to where I want to be I'll stop trying to lose weight and start trying to be a bit more anabolic and tidy up my strength and muscles.

Try picking up heavy weights and when I say heavy I mean you can pick the weight up 8-10 times with good form and speed, but no more, because you would lose form or your speed would be really slow. Wait 1 minute and do it again. This shoots my heart rate to 155 I have a hard time getting my heart rate that high while doing high impact cardio.

Heart rate is irrelevant with strength training, it's an anaerobic activity, it doesn't do anything for cardiovascular endurance or fitness.

Really? Since starting lifting heavy my fit burn has gone from 10 minutes in a 60 minute workout to 40 minute fit burn in a 60 minute workout, I doesn't matter what kind of cardio I'm doing I'm now burning more calories per minute while doing a cardio routin, Heavy lifting is the way to go.

Heavy lifting is "a" way to go. I do it and I like it but Tiger is right that heart rate is irrelevant with strength training. Your performance is improving because you have developed your muscles using strength training so you are more efficient but you get about the same cardio benefit from lifting as you get from a moderately paced walk. Not much.

Wolverine13ft

I thnk the article is true for an intermediate to advanced lifter that wants muscle / strength gains above all else. It doesn't say cardio is bad, just unproductive in this pursuit.

I did StrongLifts 5x5 (great program) and quickly went from 95 lb squats with lousy form to 240 lb squats with good form, with similar advancement in other lifts, all while low carb dieting, using an elliptical and loosing weight at a brisk pace. I hit a plateau and know that progressing would have meant getting much more serious about changes in diet and adjusting other activities. And I decided adding 5/10 even 25 lbs to my lifts over the next few months wasn't worth it to me. I started training for a triathlon instead. (And now I love running and biking more than I ever loved lifting)

What you do and how far you advance depend on many factors. But in general, you can reach a pretty advanced level of fitness in your chosen sport(s) without following esoteric advice like not mixing cardio and strength in the same workout. And for most people trying to get healthy and fit, that's perfect. But if you aspire to greatness in a single endeavor, you need to be pay attention to the tips that will allow you every advantage. And I put this tip in that category.

I have to agree with this. It is all about your goals. What is going to make you better at what you want. My idea of heavy lifting is different then others. To me heavy is something you can lift one time with whatever form you have to use to get it up. Not recomending this, just saying that is what I do. Intense cardio takes away from you ability to do this but so does being at a negative caloric intake. This is my first post so if I am wrong please forgive me, but it seems like most of us are here to lose weight/bodyfat. A mix of cardio and lifting is in my thinking the best way to do that. But it depends on goals which is the better way to go.

kenazfehu

Don't tell what to do!
Or what not to do!

ChristyRunStarr

sorry to burst your bubble... but you are completely wrong.

I've lost almost 20 pounds doing mostly the treadmill (well, running on it when it's not nice enough outside) so yeah, I don't care what that article says, I'm good with doing what I'm doing

FitBeto

You know how they say not to believe what you read in BB magazines?

tigersword

There's a question here. Is it really possible to efficiently achive catabolic (fat burning) and anabolic (muscle building) processes at the same time? As with everything fitness related, I've read every side of the argument and have found no good agreement. But it makes sense to me that trying to do both at the same time is a bit counterproductive....so I'm cardio only for now to strip back the blubber. Once I'm down to where I want to be I'll stop trying to lose weight and start trying to be a bit more anabolic and tidy up my strength and muscles.

Try picking up heavy weights and when I say heavy I mean you can pick the weight up 8-10 times with good form and speed, but no more, because you would lose form or your speed would be really slow. Wait 1 minute and do it again. This shoots my heart rate to 155 I have a hard time getting my heart rate that high while doing high impact cardio.

Heart rate is irrelevant with strength training, it's an anaerobic activity, it doesn't do anything for cardiovascular endurance or fitness.

Really? Since starting lifting heavy my fit burn has gone from 10 minutes in a 60 minute workout to 40 minute fit burn in a 60 minute workout, I doesn't matter what kind of cardio I'm doing I'm now burning more calories per minute while doing a cardio routin, Heavy lifting is the way to go.

I'm not even sure what you are saying here. Cardio is cardio, and weight training is weight training. They are two completely different forms of exercise that work two completely different energy systems. Also, however many calories you burn per minute has nothing to do with cardio fitness, in fact, the more fit your cardiovascular system is, the LESS calories you will burn per minute, as the cardio system is more efficient. Again, I'm not even sure what you are trying to say.

lloydrt

My primary physician as well as a heart doctor encouraged me to use the eliptical and tread mill in the beginning of my weight loss

I couldnt stay more than 5 mins on it when I first started.......now I do one hour

I ve lost more that 100 lbs thanks to MR ELIPTICAL and MR TREADMILL...........You shouldn't put such nonsense out there with your OP.................

Matt_Wild

When I'm building muscle I do very little cardio as I want the calories to go towards muscle building. When I'm cutting I will reduce calories first and then when I feel I've dropped enough calories and don't want to drop any more calories I will introduce cardio to burn extra energy.

lenniebus

What if you have to run away from Zombies?

SoViLicious

I guess I did not lose close to 60lbs.

_Wits_

Nevermind

Krizzle4Rizzle

Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed but this is ****ing garbage.

YogaNikki

Lmaooo I just can't.

Lol, it's too early for this kind of thread....I need the entertaining threads in the afternoon when work is slow.....

IronPlayground

I didn't read all the responses, but I will say that it really depends on your fitness goals. If it is to run distance races, then I can't say that I agree. However, if you are looking to gain strength and/or mass, then cardio should be kept to a minimum.

Matt_Wild

I didn't read all the responses, but I will say that it really depends on your fitness goals. If it is to run distance races, then I can't say that I agree. However, if you are looking to gain strength and mass, then cardio should be kept to a minimum.

Agreed.

escloflowneCHANGED

murf19

I'm doing a Turbo Fire ? P90X hybrid and I've never sweat or burned as many calories as I have doing the Hiit workouts in Turbo Fire. It makes reguar cardio easy. I'm really likeing it because I'm not a big runner and this workout burns more cals in 30 minutes then if I was to run 10 miles

wswilliams67

Was the article for body builders or fitness in general? I have a feeling it was meant for the heavy lifters who are focused on mass gains. If so, then yes the article has 'some' truth.

However, for general fitness it's a load of crap. Cardio is the single best thing for your CARDIOvascular system as far as exercises. Yes lifting can get your heart rate going, but nowhere near the higher and sustained levels you can get to with cardio. I do cardio to increase my endurance and to top off my daily caloric burn goals that I don't reach during lifting. On the days I don't lift I do a little more cardio, on the days I do lift I do less.

A good balance of weight training and cardio can't be beat.

Matt_Wild

IMO its fairly clear the article is relating to muscle building. Which makes it correct.

TR0berts

There's a question here. Is it really possible to efficiently achive catabolic (fat burning) and anabolic (muscle building) processes at the same time? As with everything fitness related, I've read every side of the argument and have found no good agreement. But it makes sense to me that trying to do both at the same time is a bit counterproductive....so I'm cardio only for now to strip back the blubber. Once I'm down to where I want to be I'll stop trying to lose weight and start trying to be a bit more anabolic and tidy up my strength and muscles.

Take a read here. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kelly3.htm

Luvmyhubby222

It almost smells like troll around here....:grumble:

Matt_Wild

There's a question here. Is it really possible to efficiently achive catabolic (fat burning) and anabolic (muscle building) processes at the same time? As with everything fitness related, I've read every side of the argument and have found no good agreement. But it makes sense to me that trying to do both at the same time is a bit counterproductive....so I'm cardio only for now to strip back the blubber. Once I'm down to where I want to be I'll stop trying to lose weight and start trying to be a bit more anabolic and tidy up my strength and muscles.

Take a read here. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kelly3.htm

Thats carb cycling tbh and not related really to this thread.

It almost smells like troll around here....:grumble:

Nope, she's actually my OH.

LesleeBeAlive

*smashing head into wall*

Dear sweet baby Jesus.

Cardio helped me lose 32 lbs. I think it works.
Dumb.

Runner50266

I guess I won't run my Half Marathon Sunday....it's counter productive to everything I've ever done.

LOL love that.

endureandpersist

Studies show that excessive cardiovascular exercise can increase belly fat, due to deposits of cortiso added because of stressing the body. Obviously marathon runners don't have this problem, not that marathon running is healthy, but your average exerciser can attest to belly fat not going away. Not everybody, so don't start yelling at me if you disagree!

MikeyD1280

*smashing head into wall*

did you run into it? cause if you did... it shouldn't hurt.. the opposite effect happens

IronPlayground

*smashing head into wall*

Dear sweet baby Jesus.

Cardio helped me lose 32 lbs. I think it works.
Dumb.

Congrats on the 32 lbs. I don't think anyone is doubting that cardio will help you achieve weight loss. The question is concerning how it might interfere with strength gains. The answer, if your goals are to gain strength, is that doing too much cardio along with heavy strength training can and will be counterproductive at some point.

ErinBeth7

Please don't tell people cardio is counterproductive. Sure, there are some who have fitness goals where cardio doesn't do much for their progress. For some, it is quintessential. I've never seen or heard of anyone gaining because they were doing cardio.