Too much cardio is bad?

TheGreatSatan · 10-04-2003, 01:42 AM

How much cardio a day is enough? Will too much cardio start to waste away my muscle gains?

gr81 · 10-04-2003, 03:20 AM

JerseyDevil · 10-04-2003, 08:27 AM

20-30 minutes of cardio 4 times a week is plenty if you are trying keep or even gain muscle mass. Longer then 30 minutes and you actually can strip as much muscle as you do fat!

**P-funk** · 10-04-2003, 08:27 AM

depends on your goals.....to much cardio isn't bad if you want to be a runner or a triathelete. To much cardio will not help youget big like a bodybuilder though because it has the potential to catabolize muscle.

**calalily1972** · 10-04-2003, 11:01 AM

"typically" 1 20 mins. HIIT and 2 30 mins. traditional cardio a week is sufficient.

Jill · 10-04-2003, 05:04 PM

I don an hour of cardio 5 times a week, trying to lose body fat. Is this really that bad? Gee I hope so, to do ony 30 or 45 minutes would be awesome!

Ambient · 10-04-2003, 06:12 PM

There is a large amount of debate as to how much cardio is enough. The only consistent response is "more than 20 minutes". Generally, 20-30 minutes of moderate cardio 3-4 times a week is enough to maintain cardio health. Increasing time or intensity beyond that level will lead to improved cardio capacity, but at the cost of some muscle mass, especially in the legs.

Hope this helps.

:ambient:

**Prince** · 10-04-2003, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jill
I don an hour of cardio 5 times a week, trying to lose body fat. Is this really that bad? Gee I hope so, to do ony 30 or 45 minutes would be awesome!

That is a lot of cardio, it also depends on the person. If you're obese this amount of cardio may be necessary, but for the "average" person it's really a bit much.

10-04-2003, 01:42 AM	#1
TheGreatSatan Building PC's, not Muscle Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cutting after a Year! Posts: 11,841 Photos: 16	Too much cardio is bad? How much cardio a day is enough? Will too much cardio start to waste away my muscle gains?

10-04-2003, 03:20 AM	#2
gr81 You Lack Intensity!!!! Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Just below our civil disguise Posts: 6,378 Photos: 10	yup

10-04-2003, 08:27 AM	#4
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 31,695	depends on your goals.....to much cardio isn't bad if you want to be a runner or a triathelete. To much cardio will not help youget big like a bodybuilder though because it has the potential to catabolize muscle. E-Book: Take Charge! Everything You Need To Know To Write Your Own Training Programs Online Consulting/Program Design Reality Based Fitness Podcast Check me out on Twitter! Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter! "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

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10-04-2003, 08:27 AM	#3
JerseyDevil GO Buckeyes! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern, NJ Posts: 5,586	20-30 minutes of cardio 4 times a week is plenty if you are trying keep or even gain muscle mass. Longer then 30 minutes and you actually can strip as much muscle as you do fat!

10-04-2003, 11:01 AM	#5
calalily1972 Moderator Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 22,438 Photos: 1	"typically" 1 20 mins. HIIT and 2 30 mins. traditional cardio a week is sufficient.

10-04-2003, 05:04 PM	#6
Jill Back to reality Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Re-Motivated Posts: 5,861	I don an hour of cardio 5 times a week, trying to lose body fat. Is this really that bad? Gee I hope so, to do ony 30 or 45 minutes would be awesome!

10-04-2003, 06:12 PM	#7
Ambient Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1	There is a large amount of debate as to how much cardio is enough. The only consistent response is "more than 20 minutes". Generally, 20-30 minutes of moderate cardio 3-4 times a week is enough to maintain cardio health. Increasing time or intensity beyond that level will lead to improved cardio capacity, but at the cost of some muscle mass, especially in the legs. Hope this helps. :ambient: