whats 'wrong' with too much cardio?
Replies
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you're probably not gaining muscle but burning the fat that hides your existing muscles.I only do Cardio at this point (I'm planning on getting into lifting soon) but I've noticed that even just doing Cardio that I'm gaining muscle. I have a stationary bike (which works well for my legs, obviously but also my arms--which I just thought was the most brilliant idea I've ever concocted.) And when I up the resistance, I have to use my muscles more. Which only leads me to believe that while I am doing Cardio (getting my heart rate up, more rapid breathing--yada yada) I am also using my muscles, which obviously means that they're not just going to wither away. Will I be perfectly toned as I lose weight? Probably not. Will I still have some semblance of muscle mass? Definitely.
Lol. You're probably right. I just said "gain" because I can feel and see them again...which is a gain for me! xD0 -
Lifting will help you lose the fat. I add in running with lifting because I love running. Just do what you enjoy and watch what you put in your mouth.0
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I LOVE CARDIO!
Recently decided to try heavy lifting as well only cuz I want a well rounded workout. I personally think you need to DO WHAT YOU LOVE. If it's lifting, lift! Cardio... go for it!
We're all different beings and don't have to all do what everyone else is doing, just do something. I personally have an idea of how I want my body to look, and I cannot get that without lifting. So now, with my cardio, I'm also hitting the weight room.
To each it's own :happy:
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss Tools0 -
Cardio - cardiovascular. so once you have the minimal muscularture to do the actual MOVEMENT- all you are training is your cardiovascular system- you know- your heart and lungs.
you are training 0 muscles.
Am I mis-interrupting this? How is it that no muscles are trained? I train for my sport, we do noting but HITT style training and my whole team has built legs.0 -
Cardio is pretty much what I have time for. At the gym, I don't have time to wait around for someone to get off a weight set just to see someone new on it the next time I come back. At this point, it's whatever gets it in. Chances are I'll incorporate some body weight resistance exercies (push-ups, crunches, and the like) but this is life for now.0
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Just an FYI...muscle does not weigh more than fat. One pound of muscle and one pound of fat both are one pound.
True but the muscle is smaller :flowerforyou:0 -
My understanding is. Yes muscle weighs more then fat so chuck scales out of the window. If you have a high bf% still and feel "skinny fat" then yeah sure hit the cardio to burn up the calories but lift weights aswell. You supposedly wont build muscle but by training them hopefully you wont lose any either. If you lose muscle mass in effect it slows your body down because more muscle means your body burns more calories.
I am on 1200 cals and i have gained muscle since i started lifting and my gawd have i dropped inches. I am also still doing cardio as i still have fatty areas i need to work on, plus i would die if i couldn't do cardio, its like air to me now. My bf% is dropping, my muscle mass is growing, losing inches at a rapid rate and can see the difference by way of toning up and dropping clothes size's. But the scale is not moving a vast amount. My scale is a bit redundant now and the tape measure is my new best friend. Tho apparently i am a freak of nature as its not possible to build muscle while on low calories so don't be upset if you don't gain muscle, I believe my luck in building muscle lies in my protien levels, however who knows.....
There is nothing negative about lifting weights its just adds an extra element to your current work outs. Not to mention a bit of variation. Then you feel the rush of knowing your stronger and that proud feeling. When i started my journey i could not lift my own weight off the floor to do a basic plank, Now i can do all sorts, there is not an exercise that i have not been able to do in the gym. That is the BEST feeling i promise you, way way better then dropping lb's. I recommend the new rules of lifting for women book. Its a great read and it also explains that you will not end up looking like "the hulk" by lifting and the science behind it.
Good luck on your journey however you go forward xxx0 -
Cardio is pretty much what I have time for. At the gym, I don't have time to wait around for someone to get off a weight set just to see someone new on it the next time I come back. At this point, it's whatever gets it in. Chances are I'll incorporate some body weight resistance exercies (push-ups, crunches, and the like) but this is life for now.
Buy yourself a kettle bell, a decent weight. Not ideal if your wanting to go down the "heavy" route but i have a 12kg that i use at home when i cannot get to the gym. lifting 12kg is better then nothing, Still gets your muscles working.0 -
how about
lift heavy weights for strength
lift heavy weights fast for cardio
Thoughts?
JenSinkler.com0 -
If weight resistance is what builds muscle then exercise which uses muscles will do more than just increase your heart/lung capacity. Zumba has had a great effect on my legs in particular, and my toning DVDs have also helped.
(To weight lifters who insist toning does not exist
I was weak as well as overweight and now my muscles are bigger and stronger.
I think what they are saying is that cardio at some point will stop building muscle. So if a person has a hard time losing those extra pounds. Then turning to a weight exercise will build more muscle. More muscle equals more calories burned..0 -
You should break it up and do cardio and weights. The weights will help you firm up instead of having the flab from the weight you have lost. Don't look at the scale. Take measurements and pictures and track your progress that way. Also keep food journals and workout journals, it really helps. You can do cardio and weights in the same day with a 3 day split. Say 1 hr cardio daily with chest, back and abs day 1, 1 hr cardio with shoulders, biceps and triceps day 2, and 1 hr cardio with legs and butt day 3 then rest. Or you can go 6 days, do 1 hour cardio day 1, then day 2 lift and do chest, back and abs, day 3 is 1 hr cardio, day 4 is lifting doing shoulders, biceps and triceps, day 5 is 1 hr cardio, day 6 is lifting and doing a hard leg and butt day, then rest on day 7. I have found I don't have the energy to do the 6 day split so I am doing the 3 day one and get better workouts and have more energy for them. It's all up to you, but doing both is the key with watching your diet. There's no reason to workout to look good if what you are eating isn't good also.0
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My opinion is that the whole cardio vs. weights argument is stupid because there is no versus, they do two entirely different things. Additionally, the only people advancing the argument are weightlifters using wholly specious arguments and internet sites trying to sell something. For some reason, many here believe this stuff for no good reason other than that it sounds good. I guess that ignorance is bliss.
The guy on reddit doesn't know what he is talking about. Cardiovascular training, done properly, does change the engine because it transforms how your body processes glycogen and fat to create energy.Someone on reddit explained it really well the other day.
Think of your body as a car. Cardio is like driving your car really fast, you will go through gas really quickly, but it will not change your engine. Weight training is like upgrading to a more efficient engine. Muscle burns fat with no effort.
As for "Muscle burns fat with no effort", well so does fat.
Well. Crap. It was really well accepted by the people on the fitness boards, and made it to bestof.
But, as we know, misinfo can fly around the internet like crazy.
And I do agree with the idea of the "lifting cult". I love my running and it's really helped me lose weight, because I like it. I don't have anything against lifters, but when people scoff at me for avoiding the weight room, I don't like it so much. (At least I'm off the couch!)
Have you seen any "legit" articles discussing cardio v weights? I would like to do more research.
The stupidest argument is that if you don't lift weights your muscles are all going to whither away while your body preserves all its fat.
#1 - The body doesn't process energy that way. and
#2 - That doesn't even pass the logic test. The body will preserve the muscle needed to meet the body's activity level. If the activity level is not reduced then why would it shed muscle?
The only way someone is going to lose muscle given a sustained activity level is if they starve themselves. But that is a diet problem, not a cardio problem.
This article references some studies on the subject: http://scoobysworkshop.com/does-cardio-burn-muscle/
I will check that out.
I'm suprised I haven't seen it before, as I am a big scooby fan. Thanks for your help!0 -
You need to have a low bodyfat in order for muscle to be lost when doing cardio. Otherwise, you can do as much as you want.0
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hi everyone,
thanks soo much for your replies. it really has sorted all my confusion out!
sooo... if i was to change up my exercise, how would this sound?
-run 2/3 a week (but as someone mentioned (sorry cant remember the name!) change it up so run hills for one and sprint intervals another)
- ride 2 a week
- ive also recently got quite into the FitnessBlender workouts on youtube as i don't have access to weights or a gym. Could i do some of their body strength training 2/3 times a week (i also found i quite liked the body strength training and cardio mix ones too) they vary from 10mins - 30mins+ each session- would that be enough?
and then keep within my calorie goal of 1500-1600.
does that sound ok? or would anyone suggest anything else?
thank you!
All this info has been fab, ok .. deep breath in..... im going to start weight training officially (planks, push ups... thats still weight training right?
could anyone check out my exercise plan, i think i want to get it okayed before i start. x0 -
Don't get stuck on the number the scale sez. If 150 fits in a size 4 who cares if it is a 150. People who lift look better in their clothes. Ditch the scale and get a very tight pair of jeans to measure your progress.
I really like this idea of the jeans. I often think my scale is broken because I just cant fathom why I havent lost when I fit in to certain items of clothing better.0 -
Your plan is to not eat protein and convert your fat into muscle. Are you a Wizard or a Warlock?...using your existing fat and convert it to muscle, i like that too, eating protein supplements is a bit of a no no for me. as i want tight lean muscle with good definition and minor bulk, not watery mass that deflats after a few weeks away from the gym...0 -
My understanding is. Yes muscle weighs more then fat so chuck scales out of the window. If you have a high bf% still and feel "skinny fat" then yeah sure hit the cardio to burn up the calories but lift weights aswell. You supposedly wont build muscle but by training them hopefully you wont lose any either. If you lose muscle mass in effect it slows your body down because more muscle means your body burns more calories.
I am on 1200 cals and i have gained muscle since i started lifting and my gawd have i dropped inches. I am also still doing cardio as i still have fatty areas i need to work on, plus i would die if i couldn't do cardio, its like air to me now. My bf% is dropping, my muscle mass is growing, losing inches at a rapid rate and can see the difference by way of toning up and dropping clothes size's. But the scale is not moving a vast amount. My scale is a bit redundant now and the tape measure is my new best friend. Tho apparently i am a freak of nature as its not possible to build muscle while on low calories so don't be upset if you don't gain muscle, I believe my luck in building muscle lies in my protien levels, however who knows.....
There is nothing negative about lifting weights its just adds an extra element to your current work outs. Not to mention a bit of variation. Then you feel the rush of knowing your stronger and that proud feeling. When i started my journey i could not lift my own weight off the floor to do a basic plank, Now i can do all sorts, there is not an exercise that i have not been able to do in the gym. That is the BEST feeling i promise you, way way better then dropping lb's. I recommend the new rules of lifting for women book. Its a great read and it also explains that you will not end up looking like "the hulk" by lifting and the science behind it.
Good luck on your journey however you go forward xxx
Agree!! I started lifting heavy 10 weeks ago. I did my current results last night and I only lost 7lbs but gained 7lbs of muscle. I went down 8 inches all over! I also do cardio, but I love lifting! These results also would not have happened if I would have not changed my food also. What I do is 20-30 min cardio along with lifting weights for 30-40 min. About once a week I do straight cardio with no weights.0 -
i definitely gained considerable muscle while losing weight. was overdoing cardio, though (possibly still am). cut time down to 1/3 of previous, increased intensity considerably. still doing strength m/w/f. i hit a weight loss wall for about a month at 150, weighed in at 148 this morning so past that wall.
to the poster who said they don't have time to wait at the gym but mentioned push-ups, etc. do it! m/w/f i wake up and do 4 max sets of pushups to start the day while getting ready. that alone will eventually get you to the point where you want to do more strength training soon enough (i also do other stuff later in the day m/w/f)
now i just need to invest in a kettlebell.0 -
YES! Do more cardio! Cardio is great for weight loss. your original idea is great! Just always keep your cardio in the mix! I do cardio EVERY day. It's been working out great for me. I'm to the point that I have began a bit of weight lifting to tone.0
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YES! Do more cardio! Cardio is great for weight loss. your original idea is great! Just always keep your cardio in the mix! I do cardio EVERY day. It's been working out great for me. I'm to the point that I have began a bit of weight lifting to tone.
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If you want to lose weight (fat and muscle), diet in a caloric deficit.
If you want to lose BODY FAT, lift weights. Squats, lunges, deadlifts are the magic three recommended for body recomposition and prevention of loss of lean body mass in a caloric deficit.
If you want to BUILD MUSCLE, lift weights in a caloric surplus.
Cardio just helps build a deficit and strengthens your lungs and heart. It doesn't really do much for lean body mass retention in a deficit, and it doesn't do much muscle building in a surplus.
That said, I do full-body resistance for 30-60 minutes and then run 5-10k a few times a week.
I like your routine. Why not do both! I think I might try this. I love to run, and just need to work on adding in lifting. 30 mins seems doable.0 -
Don't get stuck on the number the scale sez. If 150 fits in a size 4 who cares if it is a 150. People who lift look better in their clothes. Ditch the scale and get a very tight pair of jeans to measure your progress.
I really like this idea of the jeans. I often think my scale is broken because I just cant fathom why I havent lost when I fit in to certain items of clothing better.
Me too! I've been adding to the charity pile for 4 weeks but not really shifted weight OR inches.:noway:0 -
Bump for later:)0
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In the rare instance cardio builds muscle, it is because the person went from doing nothing to cardio.
The body is always adapting. very soon you're burning less calories doing the same workout, for the same length of time and intensity. This is within weeks if it's a new activity.
The only way to build muscle is with progressive strength training on a slight calorie surplus.
The rare person who is building muscle while on a deficit is both a complete noobie to lifting and overly fat.
It is much easier for the fat person to lose fat and keep muscle, than the lean person.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/adding-muscle-while-losing-fat-qa.html0 -
I'm a cardio junkie and having a hard time finding my way into the lifting end of things. I do the circuit or do weight machines sometimes...but I honestly have no idea what I'm doing. My current weight is not unhealthy by any means, but I do want to change my body composition.
Any advice on that topic is appreciated, by the way, just send me a message.0 -
I train to be an athlete, not a fitness model.
I do it all.
Lift heavy weights and less reps
Lift light weights and more reps
Sprint
Run half marathons (eventually a full, working on it
Run 5ks and 10ks
Plyometrics (Markety beachbody psuedo kind)
Plyometrics (Motha Rrrrussia kind)
Circuit Training
Push ups and pull ups
Abs
Yoga (sometimes)
Overspeed training (Parachute runs, etc.)
Run uphill
Run downhill
Play sports
Etc., etc.0 -
I'm a cardio junkie and having a hard time finding my way into the lifting end of things. I do the circuit or do weight machines sometimes...but I honestly have no idea what I'm doing. My current weight is not unhealthy by any means, but I do want to change my body composition.
Any advice on that topic is appreciated, by the way, just send me a message.
The book New Rules of Lifting for Women is a good resource for understanding all of the various concepts and how they apply to women. Even if you don't follow that lifting program to a T, it's a good place to start. Others like Stronglifts 5 x 5 or Starting Strength.0 -
Your plan is to not eat protein and convert your fat into muscle. Are you a Wizard or a Warlock?...using your existing fat and convert it to muscle, i like that too, eating protein supplements is a bit of a no no for me. as i want tight lean muscle with good definition and minor bulk, not watery mass that deflats after a few weeks away from the gym...
neither of those, just take note that i dont want to eat PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS such as musacha, creatin etc etc, i want to build muscle with the protein in my diet, and not be reliant on other sources, mainly due to cost, as well as the ability to sustain the build im earning naturally over a long period of time.
im not in a rush to build bulk, nor to achieve huge bulk results, and from what i can tell, without all those supplements im not likely to look like a wrestler anytime soon
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Your plan is to not eat protein and convert your fat into muscle. Are you a Wizard or a Warlock?...using your existing fat and convert it to muscle, i like that too, eating protein supplements is a bit of a no no for me. as i want tight lean muscle with good definition and minor bulk, not watery mass that deflats after a few weeks away from the gym...
didnt know you could turn fat into muscle... i thought they were two different tissues. must be using magic0 -
Just an FYI...muscle does not weigh more than fat. One pound of muscle and one pound of fat both are one pound.
This is a logic trap. Nothing weighs more than anything else when you measure it all by equal weights. Of course, nothing is scientifically measured this way. Everything has a weight by volume and a specific gravity. So, muscle does weigh more than fat as the specific gravity is higher.
1. The density of mammalian skeletal muscle is 1.06 g/ml.
"... 1.06 g/cm-3 which is the density of mammalian skeletal muscle"
2. The density of fat (adipose tissue) is about 0.9 g/ml
"...by multiplying the density of adipose tissue (0.9196 g/ml)"
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/71/6/1392.full
THANK YOU! It drive me crazy this 'muscle weighs the same as fat cause a pound is a pound' crap. That would mean that toothpicks weigh the same as bricks, cause 20 pounds of toothpicks weighs the same as 20 pounds of bricks0
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