Cardio after Work-out Question

MoneyAddyct

New member
Hey guys. For years, I've never really needed to do cardio; I've been in a perpetual "bulking" state. But as I get older, the need to do cardio for weight-loss (around the mid-section) is getting more apparent. I've read that it's best to do cardio when you first wake-up on an empty stomach or right after a work-out. I'm not a morning person and loathe the idea of doing 6am cardio, but I do that on some days. On other days, I'd much prefer to do cardio after my work-out. My question is: How does the post-workout meal/shake fit in to doing cardio after a workout? Should it be eaten/drank after the workout and cardio session or after the workout but before the cardio, etc? It's been drilled into my head how important post-workout nutrition is, so I'm hesitant to put off my post-workout shake until after 30-35 minutes of cardio.
 
Im not sure on the science of the whole thing, but I consume my shake after cardio and it works for me.

Also, i believe 20 minutes post-workout cardio is plenty. Set a treadmill to a comfortable walk, AND THEN increase to 15 degree incline.
 
Thanks for the info! I've mainly been jumping rope, but I occasionally use the elliptical cycle and treadmill, too. I'm not sure on the science of the whole thing myself. Every article I read has a different analysis and conclusion than the one before it: some say cardio on an empty stomach is bad, some say it's the best to do, etc.
 
Do not take the protien shake before the cardio, do it right after...the protien shake will cause an insulin response you want to avoid while you are trying to get you body to burn fat.

A few things I recommend for post workout cardio

Drink BCAAs during to prevent muscle breakdown
With long workouts cortisol is a factor, maybe a supplement for that or 1 gram vit C before and after to combat this

You don't want to loose that hard earned muscle while cutting
 
jayts22 said:
Do not take the protien shake before the cardio, do it right after...the protien shake will cause an insulin response you want to avoid while you are trying to get you body to burn fat.

A few things I recommend for post workout cardio

Drink BCAAs during to prevent muscle breakdown
With long workouts cortisol is a factor, maybe a supplement for that or 1 gram vit C before and after to combat this

You don't want to loose that hard earned muscle while cutting
Click to expand...

BCAA's can cause your body to release insulin as well, so you may want to see how this effects your BG levels. When to take your post-workout drink depends on when you had your last meal. the whole immediately after your workout thing isn't ENTIRELY true.
 
Thanks for the response guys. I usually have a pre-workout meal, wait about 35 minutes, work out, and drink a shake within 15 minutes of finishing (basically as long as it takes me to get home from the gym.) My workouts are generally 40-50 minutes.
 
I like to do some bcaas and vitamin C prior to my pwo cardio, and then have my pwo meal after my pwo cardio. Sometimes I just use some creatine and vitamin C w/out the bcaas.

BEAST
 
I no longer use a shake right after my workouts but, rather, employ a pre/peri-workout protocol then wait 1 hour post-workout before consuming another meal. So, I have a full hour after my workout before eating again in which I can get in my cardio.


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Would there be any muscle loss or any adverse side effects from doing say 45 min lifting then a session of HIIT? from what ive read and discussed in the past there shouldnt be but just verifying i usually consume a shake about 20 minutes after either lifting or cardio.
 
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