Cardio

[foxybrown]

Just wondering when you guys do your cardio? I know the best time for fat burning is first thing in the morning on an empty stomach - with Winter, it's been a bit difficult to get up to be honest! So I've been doing my cardio in the evenings after work, I normally do 50-60mins then I have my protein shake & start on my weights. I have the protein shake so that I can get through my weight training. I did a walk during lunch today with two other girls from work - we did the Jacobs Ladder which is just down the road from work in Ponsonby. It's basically a number of stairs - 100 steps in fact. I found this to be a great way of doing cardio other than using the usual treadmill & bike at the gym, so I'm looking at doing this at least 2 to 3 times a week during lunch.

[Growth]

I dont do cardio regularly unless im on a cut. When i do its never close to a workout, i find if i do cardio then try to have a workout i cant perform to my best, a bit obvious really since the cardio would be eating up energy.

I sometimes run late evening. Usually i have recovered by that time.

[Mossley]

Before my first comp I did my cardio in the morning and my weight training at night. As hard as it is to get up in the morning I recommend doing it then and having a break between that and your weights so that you get maximum benefit out of each session. It does get easier to get up, but unfortunately you will probably be forcing yourself as you get closer to the comp!

As you get closer you will be on a carb depleting diet, the idea behind cardio in the morning is so you straight away start burning fat as there are no carbs left to burn off first. If you have been up and eaten etc throughout the day then you do your cardio in the afternoon, it takes about 20mins to burn all of the glucose out of your muscles before you even start on the fat.

Also you will find you will have virtually no energy as you get closer to do both cardio and weight training together. Your muscles need protein to grow but you also need some carbs to have the energy to train, so if you do your cardio in the morning the few carbs you will still be eating (in your veges etc) will get you through your weight session.

BB was the hardest thing I've ever had to put my body through, and as much as the sport is all about the physical signs, competing is all mental. It's getting past the diet and the odd times and frequency of exercise required. Believe me there were times when I actually sat and cried because I had to get up and go to the gym and my partner didn't have to. Sounds really silly because we are the ones choosing to do this but the diet can make you very irrational at times.

But hey in saying that, I'm doing it all over again. Nothing beats that feeling on stage when you are confident standing in a bikini in front of 100's of people and they all admire YOU!

Haha half of them probably don't have any idea how much you've had to endure to get there though. Except those poor partners who are so happy that the ordeal might finally be over for them.........until next time!

[jono]

I dont do cardio regularly unless im on a cut. When i do its never close to a workout, i find if i do cardio then try to have a workout i cant perform to my best, a bit obvious really since the cardio would be eating up energy.

I sometimes run late evening. Usually i have recovered by that time.

im not doing any cardio right now either.

last time i did cardio i did it around 8pm. i normally train at either 11am or 1 pm

[Simo]

Usually at night or on the off days, run for about 20mins

[Pseudonym]

I do 5mins of cardio as a warmup before I start lifting. It's not really for any health or fitness benefits - it's just since I'm pretty sedentary during the day, I've decided it's a good idea to start moving gently before jumping straight into the weight room. My joints seem to appreciate it.

I play some tennis in the weekend (training rest-days) if it's fine, but that's about it.

Personally, I'm a believer in getting the diet to lose the fat for you, not the cardio. (Or maybe I'm just lazy... )

[CutTaBits]

In the winter when i am bulking i weight train 5 days a week after work at about 6pm.

then when the weather starts to warm up i cut the weight training back to 4 days and add cardio before work on a empty tummy beginning with 2 days a week working up to 5 cardio mornings.

Probably should be doing cardio during the winter to keep the hart healthy but i hate the cold.

[Mossley]

I've always done lots of cardio so I like to keep it up throughout the year. I think being a female too I think it helps me lose weight faster. The diet is good but I find cardio helps move the fat from the stubborn areas....

[deegee]

I've been a bit slack with my cardio recently but I try for 20 mins 2-3 times per week usualy late afternoon evening.

[Ash]

I do 30-50 minutes of moderate intensity cardio 3-4 x a week on the days I don't have a weight workout.

I've been trying to do the cardio first thing in the morning but if I don't manage, I do it whenever I can during the day.

I used to do 30 minutes of high intensity cardio 3 x a week and as much as I enjoyed it, I found that it was cutting into my progress at gym and I was feeling overtrained all the time. The lower intensity cardio has allowed me to retain most of my fitness and left me feeling a lot better overall.

[Marcus]

I do 30-40 mins of cardio 2 - 3 nights a week after work. Just low intensity brisk walk type stuff.

I used to do high intensity cardio but found my size gains were stalling.

I love cardio nights though, great to clear the mind - don't have to think too much.

[foxybrown]

I've been doing regular cardio sessions 4-5 times a week for 40 - 50 mins, this has been in the evenings after work. I checked with my nutritionist whether this was OK or whether I should be doing it at the recommended time in the morning before breakfast. She didn't seem to think it mattered too much with regards to the time I do my cardio, as long as I keep to 40-60mins in each session. I guess this will change as the comp date gets closer, depending on my what level my bodyfat is at. She has advised that I will get down to 10% bodyfat by Sept if I keep going & remain focused!

[ExpensiveUrine]

I know the best time for fat burning is first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

Can you tell me why you think it is the best time for fat burning?

Edit: Does your goal include retaining most of your LBM, during calorie deficit?

[foxybrown]

I've been advised by my current trainer & trainers in the past that the best time to do your cardio session is when you first wake up in the morning, before you eat anything. The reason for this is because when you wake up, your glycogen stores are low, so your body will begin to burn fat quicker than if it had to burn all of your carbohydrates up and then start working on your fat...but then again, I'm wondering whether it really makes any difference what time of the day you do cardio. I've been told that as long as you reach a target heart rate of 65% (most efficient fat burning zone) of your maximum heart rate during your cardio session, you'll be on track to burning body fat....

I haven't been doing any cardio in the mornings at all since I've started training - my cardio is done in the evenings. I have another session with my nutritionist end of this week on Friday. I'm curious as to whether she'll get me to change my cardio sessions from evenings to mornings - so far she's advised me to keep doing what I'm doing at the mo...

[tallulahangie]

Haha! I am doing my cardio as I type this message!

Aaaaah the joys of having a laptop...

[Growth]

Haha! I am doing my cardio as I type this message!

Aaaaah the joys of having a laptop...

LOL :pfft: