Cardio after Lifting?

[Bulldog7]

Hey guys, right now I'm 5'10", 204lbs and the last time I got my bodyfat checked was a couple months ago and it was 11-12%. It is around there still but I want to get down to 7-8% bf. Now I'm just trying to get some opinions here. I'm going to be doing high intensity cardio twice a week this month, and bumping it up to 4 times a week in March. My cardio will last roughly 20-25 minutes. This is just part of a gradual process to maintain muscle and lose fat. Now I can do my cardio in the morning, about 6 hours before I lift or do it right after I lift. I usually lift for about 45 minutes. My diet's on check and I just want to get some opinions on what you think would be better for maximizing fat loss while maintaining as much muscle as possible. What do you think?

[BigVrunga]

Well bro, from what I know high-intensity cardio is going to cause your body to hit its glycogen stores before it goes for the fat. AFIK, mid-intensity cardio post workout is a big plus for fat loss.

BV

[bpmartyr]

I would say after resistance training is fine but low intensity will yield better results for losing fat while retaining muscle. Only go high intesity if you are training for something specific that requires the increased endurance. I like to do 30 min low intensity in the AM and another 30 min session in the evening. I have been doing a fair amount of high intensity recently but it is for the sole purpose of increasing endurance for sparring and I do notice some muscle loss while doing so. Everyone is a bit differant but I think the general concensus on this board would agree with low intensity for your stated goals.

[ManBeast]

Yep, low to mid-intensity for 30 minutes post workout is the best bet if you are going for fatloss and want to do it post-workout.

ManBeast

[scott72]

I find that once I get around 11%, low intensity doesn't help as much. I still do low intensity after strength training, but on non strength training days, I'll throw in 30 mins of high intensity. I think as long as you don't over do it on the high intensity, you'll have no problem keeping mass. Don't do your high intensity on an empty stomach of course.

[bpmartyr]

I find that once I get around 11%, low intensity doesn't help as much. I still do low intensity after strength training, but on non strength training days, I'll throw in 30 mins of high intensity. I think as long as you don't over do it on the high intensity, you'll have no problem keeping mass. Don't do your high intensity on an empty stomach of course.

IMO, if low intensity isn't doing the trick, increase duration/frequency and/or check your diet. At lower bf% I believe refeeds to be of great benefit as well to add a little octane boost to the fat burning furnace.

[BigVrunga]

Definitely. Refeeds, and sticking with solid food sources really help to speed along that fat loss.

BV

[Bulldog7]

This is my diet pretty much everyday
Meal 1- 6 large egg whites, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup of oats, 1 scoop of pb
Meal 2- 6oz of chicken or can of tuna, 1/2 cup of oats, fish oil(9g of fat)
Meal 3- same as meal 2- maybe 1 scoop pb instead of fish oil
Meal 4- preworkout---same as meal 2
Meal 5- postworkout----2 scoops whey, 70-75g of carbs (half oats, half dextrose)
Meal 6- same as meal 2
Meal 7- before bed- 1 1/2 cup of skim milk, scoop of whey (I would rather use casein but I usually dont have money for it), fish oil (9g of fat)

Now if I do cardio in the morning, it would be an hour after meal 1 and I would treat postworkout like I do lifting but usually 1 scoop of whey and about 45g of carbs instead. Also, my protein sources are tuna, chicken, egg whites, or whey protein. For instance, I might substitute egg whites or chicken instead of tuna. I try to not use whey as a meal in place of one of the other protein sources, but sometimes I have no choice.

One more thing, what exactly are refeeds and how often do you use them.

[bpmartyr]

No fruit or veggies? I would lose the dextrose in the pw shake. Don't necessarily have to have casein before bed, the milk has cassein but I would eat a whole food vs the whey at that time of day. Cottage cheese is great for that.

[Bulldog7]

I'm definately trying to eat more veggies--especially broccoli and spinach....So should i replace some of the oats w/ fruits and veggies and maybe eat a couple bananas w/ some oats for my carb source postworkout? Also, what do u guys do for refeeds?

[bpmartyr]

I'm definately trying to eat more veggies--especially broccoli and spinach....So should i replace some of the oats w/ fruits and veggies and maybe eat a couple bananas w/ some oats for my carb source postworkout? Also, what do u guys do for refeeds?

Sounds like a good start. Frozen berries are great and easy to throw in the blender with your oats & whey.

Refeeds: lots of starchy carbs but avoid mixing in fats. Pasta is my weapon of choice. Heaping mounds of spagetti smothered in a tomato based sauce and usually some lean ground turkey or extra lean beef. I also like to make a lean white sauce and add tuna. Ok, I gotta stop, I'm headin out to refeed.

[Bulldog7]

Allright sounds good....So this is what Im gonna do....my meals will consist entirely of fruits and vegetables except preworkout I'll stick w// oats and pwo will be half oats, half fruits. And for now, maybe refeed once a week. When you refeed, do you refeed once a day or for the whole day?

[bpmartyr]

Allright sounds good....So this is what Im gonna do....my meals will consist entirely of fruits and vegetables except preworkout I'll stick w// oats and pwo will be half oats, half fruits. And for now, maybe refeed once a week. When you refeed, do you refeed once a day or for the whole day?

Not entirely fruits and veggies. Just need to find a balance and have at least "some" fruits and veg. When I refeed I usually do 2-3 meals worth and sometimes throw in some ice cream or a piece of cake just to satisfy the cravings but that is not the "best" way, just my way.

[TenMan]

I would lose the dextrose in the pw shake.

Why? B/c he is cutting or just in general you don't like to use dextrose?

[bpmartyr]

Why? B/c he is cutting or just in general you don't like to use dextrose?

I don't like dextrose for anything other than certain endurance sports. I spend a lot of time and energy researching, preparing and and eating healthy low GI foods. Why add junk food like dextrose in the mix especially post workout? Some believe the insulin spike the dextrose causes is the best course to restoring glycogen to the muscles after the depletion caused from resistance training. I disagree, as do many. Do a search on post workout nutrition and you will find many threads covering/debating this that should help educate you enough to make up your own mind.

[bpmartyr]

Here's a good start:

http://anabolicminds.com/forum/suppl...kout+nutrition

[TenMan]

Here's a good start:

http://anabolicminds.com/forum/suppl...kout+nutrition

Thanks for the input and the link.

[mildain]

hey anyone know if one was to do low intensity cardo 65%, after a intense weight session if it would be wise to ingest the postworkout shake after the weights or after the cardio. and if so, what would be the best shake mix, to lose fat whilie maintainig muscle, 1/3 carbrotien ratio?

[Synthetik]

IMO, i would just wait to ingest the protein after the cardio session. It all depends though, some even sip on protein while training. Just make sure you are not loosing muscle, or at least a lot of it.

[hamper19]

hey anyone know if one was to do low intensity cardo 65%, after a intense weight session if it would be wise to ingest the postworkout shake after the weights or after the cardio. and if so, what would be the best shake mix, to lose fat whilie maintainig muscle, 1/3 carbrotien ratio?

You could always just have some water with BCAA's in it before cardio and or Liver tabs. That's what I do on occasion.

h19