What type of Cardio is Better?

[groovy]

Hi all, I am currently in cutting phase. well trying to anyway 27yrs and 77kg and 173cm.

My diet is sorted and working out 4 days a week. (early mornings).

And i do my cardio after my weights. Currently doing 20min of 80% intensity cycling with approx heart rate at 145-150 bpm according to the machine anyway. I used to do HIIT on treadmill previously.

Currently doing cycling as its seems lots easier on the joints compared to HIIT on treadmill. (i dont have any problems with the knees though )

Also have a treadmill at home, and i run in the evening for about 30min.

Anyway, we have rower, cycles, cross trainers and treadmills at the gym. Just wondering whats the most effective machine to use for overall cardio or fat loss?

Or What has been most effective for most of you while cutting?

Cheers.

[weener lad]

Basically it comes down to personal choice (sure some exercises will burn a bit more calories than others) and what machines or style of cardio keeps you motivated.

27yrs and 77kg and 173cm.

My diet is sorted and working out 4 days a week. (early mornings).

Just out of interest are you trying to bulk or cut? Personally I would cut back on the cardio to 3 days a week if you are trying to bulk.

[groovy]

Basically it comes down to personal choice (sure some exercises will burn a bit more calories than others) and what machines or style of cardio keeps you motivated.

27yrs and 77kg and 173cm.

My diet is sorted and working out 4 days a week. (early mornings).

Just out of interest are you trying to bulk or cut? Personally I would cut back on the cardio to 3 days a week if you are trying to bulk.

Hi weenar lad. Im trying to cut. So trying to do as much as cardio as possible.

Personally i dont have any choice. I will do wateva i need to get the results.

I have been cycling since last week, as it seems its easier on the joints thats all and its very hard to do treadmil after workout, as that tires me out quickly.

But it seems like when im cycling the upper body its not being worked a lot obviously, compared to treadmill as the upper body is doesnt move as much during cycling compared to treadmill.

Does that mean, my legs will get fitter faster compared to my upper body?

What do you suggest?

thanks.

[teamfatboy]

If you're trying to cut, then really, the most important fact is 'can you keep at it?'. If the treadmill gives you knee problems, then clearly, the "most effective" option for you is to stick to the bike/ rower/ cross trainer - but keep at it. And yes, cardio after weights is much more effective than vice versa.

In terms of cardio-vascular fitness, as long as the intensity's up there, the fact that your arms are not getting worked as hard on the bike is less important than the overall heart rate...biceps/triceps in particular are not big muscle groups compared with legs, so the difference is negligible, I expect. So, no - your legs won't necessarily "get fitter" faster than upper body, what will improve is endurance.

If you were used to doing HIIT on the treadmill, consider (if your gym has suitable spin bikes) using a spin bike rather than an electric 'cardio' bike. Spin bikes let you come out of the saddle, and really hammer the HIIT side in a way that eg Life Fitness electric cardio bikes don't seem to do.

[groovy]

Thanks TFB, much appreciated for the explanation. Will find out next time im at the gym, if we have the spin bikes and will try it out.

Hopefully i wont loose too much size as well becos of the intensity!! :pray: :pray:

Also because im trying to cut, is it a good idea to have dextrose (50gms or so) with my PWO shake?

[teamfatboy]

Also because im trying to cut, is it a good idea to have dextrose (50gms or so) with my PWO shake?

You might want to post that in Diet/Nutrition, so's some of the more experienced folks can advise...

[weener lad]

TFB hit the nail on the head :nod: theres nothing I can add.

As far as PWO nutrition goes it all depends on your current diet and what you are cutting for. Personally I would say stick with whole foods if you are dieting for a comp so your not starving again to quickly, but this is a personal choice.

Good luck with your cut

[Monopoly Man]

You really wanna cut and keep the muscle you have built the hard way?

Walk on the Treadmill for an hour.

6km/h is fine, but vary the incline at regular intervals from flat all the way up to the max incline and then back down again, back up etc.

Your heartrate wants to be in the fat burning zone to burn fat, not the cardio zone

[Mrbig]

it really comes down to energy in vs energy out (calories taken in calories burned)you can do wateva cardio you like az long az your burning more calories than your taking in you will lose fat but burn to much and you will lose muscle so its up to you but higher intensity cardio will burn more calories so up the protein intake so you keep all your hard earned muscle

[Bazza]

Currently doing cycling as its seems lots easier on the joints compared to HIIT on treadmill. (i dont have any problems with the knees though )

Guess it depends on how quickly you want to cut and how much time you can commit to it. My suggestion is power walking 45 min to an hour in the morning, same at night. It may be old fashioned and not done in the gym, but it gets you outsider provided it aint peeing down. If your knees are OK it will carve the weight off you. I did it for three months once before a comp and shed heaps of weight....OK I also knocked off beer for 6 months but thats another story

[Mrbig]

if you want a extreme cardio workout come train with me haha if you can survive it

[biggurl27]

Step work 1000's of them and hills :wink:

[Gym rat]

Bikeing to the gym or biking town that is good type of cardio plus it beats doing cardio in the gym.

[ENP]

Cycling in the gym is really not worth it.

Go for short, intense stuff like rowing machine TT or hill repeats of running or find a huge set of stairs and do repeats on that.

[tonyb]

yep agreed, mundane cardio at one low rate is a waste of time, your body just adapts. Mix it up and confuse the system.