is cardio bad for body building?

**BigPapaPumps21** · 07-07-2006, 09:54 PM

I'm a 20 yr old male who likes weight-lifting. I really like riding bicycle too for long times 30min - 2hrs. I'm reading that cardio hurts body building if done for a half-hour or more. As you know, your body looks at muscle as a liability because it consumes so many calories to maintain. When you cut back on carbs and increase cardio, your body starts consuming its fast-twitch fibers (the valuable size and strength fibers) as it preserves the slow twitch fibers it needs to do the cardio. And long duration aerobics produces corisol, a catabolic agent that breaks down muscle porteins. Worse, as your strength diminishes due to less fast-twitch fibers, the amount of weight you can lift decreases. With less load, your body starts dumping even more muscle as it perceives it as unnecessary. This is known as the dreaded Catabolic Spiral. Just look at marathoners, their body has literally eaten itself alive. My real question is that do you think its ok for me to bike hard for an hour or longer and not worry about losing muscle size. I lift mainly with my chest. I want six pack abs,big arms, big chest, big strong back, and ok legs. I dont need huge legs and was wondering if biking would only hurt my legs or if it would take away from the rest of my body. I way 195lbs and am 6'2" and in average shape. I roof so I run and stand all day on my legs so they get good exercise. Biking helps work out my lungs therefore I can breath heavier (deeper) and easier and that's mainly why I bike. Elliptical machines help me breathe better to and that's a great feeling (breathing) so I constantly want to power up my lungs by biking or getting on an elliptical machine. When I get done weight lifting I dont feel my lungs work as hard and well, just my muscles i've been workin on. Will all the cardio I LOVE to do hurt my body building in my upper body?

**drew_c** · 07-08-2006, 11:16 AM

I'm reading that cardio hurts body building if done for a half-hour or more.

What is your source on that? And have you read "Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle." ?

**911=InsideJob** · 07-08-2006, 12:54 PM

I asked this question to Frank Shamrock on his forum a while ago. He said no, just make sure you eat within that 30 minute post workout window and you'll be good.

**BigPapaPumps21** · 07-09-2006, 12:03 AM

**Mudge** · 07-09-2006, 04:11 PM

I am actually instructed to do light activity (walking, biking etc) 6 days a week. Not hardcore cardio, but activity.

**TJ Cline** · 07-09-2006, 04:31 PM

A small amount is good, too much is bad....you have to figure out what works best for you.

**CowPimp** · 07-09-2006, 08:20 PM

An accumulation of too much aerobic activity can be detrimental to bodybuilding, but I think people exaggerate the downsides of it. 30 minutes a few times a week is usually what I recommend. I wouldn't bike for 2 hours a day 5 days each week if you are really serious about bodybuilding, but you can toy with it and see how it affects your training.

**911=InsideJob** · 07-09-2006, 09:31 PM

I'd say doing cardio everyday and bodybuilding is okay just as long as you don't try marathon running after working your muscles. It's best to seperate the 2 by at least 4 hours, get lots of nutrition and rest in between, and do about 30 minutes of cardio- no more.

**EsseQuamVideri** · 07-11-2006, 12:05 PM

I like to do 15-30 minutes of low impact cardio after my leg workout. I find my legs are not as sore two days later. I am wobbly as hell when I do it but being able to walk in two days is a bonus.

**911=InsideJob** · 07-11-2006, 01:54 PM

I just read Stallones old workout routine when he was training for Rocky (in the bodybuilding forum). He did cardio in the morning and in the evening and did sparring/weights inbetween. Tyson use to do cardio for 30 minutes, 3 times a day and do his sparring and pushups/dips/crunches in between. So if those guys can get huge with that much cardio you know it doesnt hurt your growth.

**camarosuper6** · 07-11-2006, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by 911=InsideJob

I just read Stallones old workout routine when he was training for Rocky (in the bodybuilding forum). He did cardio in the morning and in the evening and did sparring/weights inbetween. Tyson use to do cardio for 30 minutes, 3 times a day and do his sparring and pushups/dips/crunches in between. So if those guys can get huge with that much cardio you know it doesnt hurt your growth.

those guys never got huge, they got ripped and Im guessing they werent even close to 100 percent natural.

**CowPimp** · 07-11-2006, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by camarosuper6

those guys never got huge, they got ripped and Im guessing they werent even close to 100 percent natural.

I know Stallone wasn't. Plus, they could've added most of their mass before starting the insane cardio regimen, have genetics that don't quit, and of course the chemical enhancement. Also, doing solid state cardio 3 times a day is a very poor way of conditioning yourself for boxing in my opinion. The work to rest ratio is so far from that of boxing it's ridiculous.

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