brian2440

I go to the gym of a morning(7:30am) lift weights for and hour then come home and do cardio for a half hour. I do not eat anything til I do my cardio. I was wondering would I be better off doing cardio at night when I get home from work. I work second shift(3pm till 11:30pm). Or is there a better way.

Du

Why not do cardio in the AM on an empty stomach (I say this at the risk of beginning an argument), and drink a protein shake after cardio (to stave off the usage of muscle for energy)? Then lift at night, and take a pro shake after lifting?

Or if you must do them together, drink a protein shake after lifting, and then do moderate intensity cardio?

Best idea of all would be to alternate lifting days and cardio days. Make them seperate days, ya know?

But you should always take in water and whey after lifting.

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DOMS

First off, you MUST eat after your workout. Otherwise you body will fall into a catabolic state. Plus you won't have much energy to do cardio. No carbs equals no aerobic energy.

As for when to do cardio, I've been told that you shouldn't do cardio on the same day as workout. But that's just one person's opinion.

brian2440

I work second shift and the gym is not open when I get home. I lift four days a week and do cardio 5 to 6 days a week. should I just lift four days and do cardio the other three. I am trying to reduce my body fat. is this enough cardio a week.

QuestionGuy

oh man i tryed to do cardio in the morning and that didnt last very long i jsut cant get up like at 5 in the morning right before school or work and do cardio so i do half hour every day afternoon. but i make sure i do cardio 3-4 hours before my resistance training (lifting) and i love it

IONOR

First off I hope you are getting a meal in before you even hit the weights first thing in the morning you will be extremly catabollic. Not doing so would mean you would be metabolizing amino acids to use as fuel (muscle gets burned and used as energy) The duration of your workout.Second of you should never do cardio straight after your weights (again you are in a catabollic condition) You need to weight at least 6 hours after weights to do any cardio as not weighting at least 6 hours leaves you highly catabollic and again your muscles will litarally be getting used as fuel. Instead you want to get your PWO shake in(whey,water and a 50/50 mix of carbs dextrose and maltodextrin is most optimal to replase blood suger and glucose levels as well as put you in the most anabolic state possible) at this time.Therefore you have two chicoces you can either lift at night and do cardio in the morning (Your best having something to eat first thing a whey protien shake made with water would be optimal before cardio.Try and have a carb and protien source eg oatmeal with milk then a whey protien shake before weights) and lift at night. Or leaving at least 6 hours between weights in the morning and cardio at night.
Hope this helped!!

(The many stages of Bodybuilding)

brian2440

So you are saying to drink a protein shake and eat oatmeal before weight training and then do cardio at night. How much cardio should I do to reduce my bf%. If I go to the gym four times a week for an hour each day. I am confused and do not know how much cardio to do. I am willing to do what ever I have to. I just do not want to do it the wrong way.

CowPimp

Diet is key. As always, I must direct you to the diet & nutrition section of these forums. Do some reading of the stickies, then see about designing a diet.

As for training, weight lifting is more important than cardio for weight loss. Increased muscle mass means increased resting metabolic rate throughout the entire day. So does cardio, but not to the same extent. Either way, both will help you achieve your goals.

4 days of weight training and 3 days of cardio is plenty. It is more than enough to get you going in the right direction.

The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing...

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brian2440

should I eat before lifting weights?

DOMS

Brian, read this book: Nutrient Timing

IONOR

Short answer yes never do any activity (ie weights or cardio) on an empty stomarch. This would result on you being in a highly catabollic state (muscle burning as apposed to glucose or fat burning)

(The many stages of Bodybuilding)

Tha Don

should you eat before lifting weights?

no man... just let your muscles be starved during your workout!

depends whether you wanna shrink your muscles or make them bigger

if your answer is the latter then i advise that you eat protein and slow digesting carbs 1hr before you hit the weights

go do some research.. www.bodybuilding.com - (that'll keep him busy)

IONOR

(The many stages of Bodybuilding)

brian2440

Thanks for the advice. I will do that from now on.