I have a question about my cardio routine. I have been doing cardio exercises 4/5 times a week, after my weight lifting program. But now I really want to gain some muscles, I don't want to lose weight anymore. Should I reduce my cardio workout? Also I am going to take some Winstrol (20 mg/day). What do you guys think?
Cardio/muscle gain
- Thread starter Bebelnog
- Start date
Blondie_Bombshell
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How long are you doing cardio for?
Miss Muscle
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What type of cardio and what length of cardio do you do?
Miss Muscle
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This. No need for Winstrol (winny) at this point. Up your cals and lower your cardio but like Vega said....not completely. Your heart is an important muscle as well and still needs to be worked out.
I <3 sQuaTs
NationalFigureCompetitor
I have a hard time gaining muscle so when that is my goal, I do not do cardio. The NSCA states that endurance training has a negative effect on strength training (but not vice versa). I agree with you other ladies, but I have a hard enough time getting all of my kcals in, and I don't want to have to eat even more because I voluntarily expended more. Also, to continue getting the benefits of cardio, you have to increase either the time or intensity progressively, as your body will adapt to it very quickly. Before you know it, you would be back to 5 days a week at 45+ minutes.
It is not the same as doing cardio, but you heart will adapt just fine to resistance training, especially if you keep your rest between sets short and pick up the pace during your lifting session. and as a gym athlete, I'm sure you are more active in your daily life (brisk walking to work, taking stairs, etc.) that you are keeping your heart healthy. Personally, I have found it more beneficial to my gaining goals to not incorporate cardio.
It is not the same as doing cardio, but you heart will adapt just fine to resistance training, especially if you keep your rest between sets short and pick up the pace during your lifting session. and as a gym athlete, I'm sure you are more active in your daily life (brisk walking to work, taking stairs, etc.) that you are keeping your heart healthy. Personally, I have found it more beneficial to my gaining goals to not incorporate cardio.
Miss Muscle
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I personally think even when trying to gain muscle you should do 2 cardio sessions a week minimum. The heart is a muscle as well and even though weight training strains it, a longer cardio session endures it. And with 2 cardio session you won't lose any muscle. It will still be beneficial for gains.
And if you are a hard gainer like Squat, 2 or 3 cardio session won't hurt. However 5-7 may possibly hinder you so cut it down.
And if you are a hard gainer like Squat, 2 or 3 cardio session won't hurt. However 5-7 may possibly hinder you so cut it down.
I <3 sQuaTs
NationalFigureCompetitor
You are right MM. And I am biased. I hate cardio so I would rather not do it if I don't have to, and it works for me 
lol
lol
Miss Muscle
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Haha....I love cardio....much more than weights!
I <3 sQuaTs
NationalFigureCompetitor
i'm jealous lol
Blondie_Bombshell
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I see better results when I do 25 mins of cardio 5-6x a week than when I do 3-4 sessions of cardio for 45mins. I like doing cardio, but I think a balance between lifting and cardio is the key to your best and most healthy physique.
It depends on one's body type a lot...and yes the type of cardio. Marathon sessions probably will not allow to build muscle; I feel that I got the best muscle growth when I did interval type of cardio mostly and for about 30 minutes 4-5 times a week before a lifting session and I'm an ectomorph. For me, cardio only works before lifting session as it gives great warm up aside from calorie burning and endurance. I think abandoning cardio to build muscle might mean getting more likely to injure for some people, as you get less blood supply to tissues and less endurance muscle and less blood vessels growing. I'm talking about cardio where you also engage your arms at least sometimes. I love climbing machine a lot for this...but elliptical with moving handles will do.
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I had seen research stating that endurance training benefits strength training. The specific reason cited was that apparently it causes more small blood vessels to grow into the muscles, which improves blood supply, which improves growth and muscle functionality. (not talking about running 25K). For me also, certain types of cardio made quads and glutes grow like hell. When I tried to abandon cardio and replaced with lighter warm up I got tendinitis at multliple points which I believe due to reduced blood supply.
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45 mins are long sessions... catabolic state probably kicks in by the end (for me 45 min intense sessions clearly have catabolic effect)
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