Does too much cardio burn muscle?

[bronx_HARDSTYLE]

For a long time I thought i knew the answer to this...and the answer was always..."NO, you can only burn fat." But I get different answers from people. So can I get a straight answer as to if Too Much Cardio can burn or breakdown muscle as well as fat?

-BX-

 

[Mudge]

If you could only burn fat, many people would be in far better shape. Nature is not so easy to trick. If you are asking your body to be an extreme endurance machine, by running long distances, AND dieting, then your body is going to dump whatever weight it can. Muscle just sits there and burns calories, so this has to be gotten rid of, in order to be a superior endurance machine.

So yes, marathon runners are not buff for the simple reason that - it would go against several of nature's laws. Sprinters however, are lean and still muscular.

 

[barrysanders]

Here is a great link to answer your question.

The Truth about "Starvation Mode" - Page 2

 

[drewbolic]

first thing we use as energy is simple and complex carbs this is burned up pretty quickly when doing exercise then glycogen storages and fat and the body turns catabolic but in this process are metabolism is like a furnace and burns up everything including muscle to give the energy that your asking for during cardio/exercise.

Are body is in a much less catabolic state when using PED's and thermos like clen.
Thats why clen is so popular in the cutting phase for bodybuilding

 

[dave@maximushrt.com]

For a long time I thought i knew the answer to this...and the answer was always..."NO, you can only burn fat." But I get different answers from people. So can I get a straight answer as to if Too Much Cardio can burn or breakdown muscle as well as fat?

-BX-

I am totally against cardio because -yes it does eat away muscle and is not conducive for mass building. Its the icing on the cake for somebody who is competing and looking to shed a few more pounds or drop bf % more.
But if you are are doing hard and intense resistance weight training you will be burning enough calories and promoting fat burning. It is a known fact that for 72 hours after an intense workout there are signals to the body promoting fat loss and muscle building. Cardio promotes catabolism and robs muscles of the things that are conducive and necessary for anabolic growth. If you should do cardio - keep it to a minimum of 1 mile distance or no more than 30 minutes. HITT- High Intensity Interval Training is a way better way to go to stay safe from eating muscle.

SgFitness :: Burn Fats Fast With HITT Training ::

MAXIMUS HRT
Dave Bergstrom
Consultant
Direct: (978) 761-4051
Fax: (248) 694-0983
e-mail: dave@maximushrt.com
- Maximus HRT

 

[1134bigo]

If you could only burn fat, many people would be in far better shape. Nature is not so easy to trick. If you are asking your body to be an extreme endurance machine, by running long distances, AND dieting, then your body is going to dump whatever weight it can. Muscle just sits there and burns calories, so this has to be gotten rid of, in order to be a superior endurance machine.

So yes, marathon runners are not buff for the simple reason that - it would go against several of nature's laws. Sprinters however, are lean and still muscular.

very well said....

 

[cdn_guy_4]

Ya definitely does burn muscle. But I def seem to burn more muscle when I'm not eating enough. I've found that doing a lot of cardio every day is the only thing that has brough my BF down enough. Just not sustainable though.

 

[MuscleGuru]

In most cases, the amount of total cardio done does not determine if you burn fat or muscle.
The deciding factor is the work load you place on your body. Light to moderate cardio that keeps your heart rate below 150 requires energy, but less total energy. For this reason your body will burn energy stores, but it chooses "light" energy stores because they are what is appropriate for the task at hand. The "light" energy store is what we know as fat.

If you are performing hard cardio, with your heart rate going over 150, especially over 160, then your body will see that the task it as being asked to perform requires high amount of energy. For this reason, it will tap into it's "high" energy stores. The most energy rich stores in your body are what we know as muscle. So when asked to perform hard cardio, your body will burn muscle in order to attain the required energy to perform the task.

Evidence of this is seen in modern bodybuilding competitors. The science behind this has been proven, but it wasn't until recently that bodybuilders were willing to shy away from tradition, and trust the science. The result was that the science worked. Competitors like Branch Warren, as a prime example, only perform 20 minutes of cardio a day, and it's moderate cardio, not hard cardio. The results of doing this are seen on stage when he displays a very hard, dry, grainy physique that has been able to retain maximum muscle mass.

 

[RJ]

my thought is if you can't get nearly as lean as you need to be with diet tweaks alone, you're doing something wrong.

That being said, i think cardio is necessary but IMO too many people put way too much emphasis on it rather than change their diet.

 

[Foby]

I am totally against cardio because -yes it does eat away muscle and is not conducive for mass building. Its the icing on the cake for somebody who is competing and looking to shed a few more pounds or drop bf % more.
But if you are are doing hard and intense resistance weight training you will be burning enough calories and promoting fat burning. It is a known fact that for 72 hours after an intense workout there are signals to the body promoting fat loss and muscle building. Cardio promotes catabolism and robs muscles of the things that are conducive and necessary for anabolic growth. If you should do cardio - keep it to a minimum of 1 mile distance or no more than 30 minutes. HITT- High Intensity Interval Training is a way better way to go to stay safe from eating muscle.

SgFitness :: Burn Fats Fast With HITT Training ::

MAXIMUS HRT
Dave Bergstrom
Consultant
Direct: (978) 761-4051
Fax: (248) 694-0983
e-mail: dave@maximushrt.com
- Maximus HRT

actually its HIIT, not HITT, and it burns more muscle than low steady state cardio, don't know where your facts came from.

 

[Bikeswimlive]

HIIT is definitely the way to go. If I end up doing cardio on a machine, I limit the session to 30 minutes.

 

[RJ]

most i ever do is 3mph on a slight incline on the treadmill. Like i said, its all about diet.

 

[bronx_HARDSTYLE]

Hey thanks for all the input people. Much appreciated. Im usually going easy on cardio. I try not to burn too many calories...and I try to only stay on for about 20 minutes to a half hour of cardio like 3 times a week. But would 3 times be too much??

 

[stonecold1976]

Diet is the way to lose fat!!Cardio and mass building does not mix.