How much is too much cardio?

Damon · 07-12-2007, 01:36 PM

Stats - 6'4", 223 lbs., ~20% bodyfat, 2500-2900 calories per day (maintenance is 3300 - 3800). I've cut back lately to just a bit of low-intensity steady state for 15-20 minutes after weights but I want to add more in without killing myself. I start shooting an indie flick on the 31st so I'd like to safely cut as much as I can before that.

A few months ago, my cardio days consisted of doing the Stairmaster for 33 minutes - 5 minute warmup followed by 25 minutes of 2-minutes high-intensity/1 minute low-intensity and then a 3 minute cool down.

After plugging in all the age & weight variables into the machine it would read between 750-900 calories burned in the 33 minutes depending on what levels I could maintain.

Then I'd rest for 5-10 minutes and do HIIT on the treadmill for another 30 minutes - 30 second sprint at 12mph and then 90 second jog/walk. That'd burn another 700 calories or so according to the machine. I was exhausted and a sweaty mess but felt great having burned 1400 - 1600 calories.

If I wanted to add extra cardio during the week, sometimes on my 3x/week weight days (Rippetoe's Starting Strength - kicks my butt, btw) I'd follow it up with 20-30 minutes of the Stairmaster as above.

Too much?

**P-funk** · 07-12-2007, 02:52 PM

depends on the type of cardio. The 5x5 squat program is a very intense and high volume squat program. You will overtrain the shit out of your legs trying to do that and lots of sprinting.

JOSHBUILT · 07-15-2007, 04:29 AM

I don't know, how much cardio does a wooly mammoth do to stay fat? You be the judge you fucking asshole

Duncans Donuts · 07-15-2007, 05:55 PM

i do HIIT on off days no more than 20 minutes a pop. or games of basketball (full court).

i get extreme neuro fatigue from any kind of HIIT.

**CowPimp** · 07-15-2007, 07:35 PM

Interval training in combination with high frequency training is tricky business. You have to monitor the ability of your legs and nervous system to fully recover doing a program outlined as above.

jasone · 07-16-2007, 12:36 AM

Swimming sprints the length of the pool and walking back for 30 minutes on non leg days. I have been doing this and it works well. In the past interval training by way of running or stairmaster would cause overtraining and kill my back, knees, and ankles after a few weeks. I have been doing this for several months with no pain and feel strong. Works for me!

07-12-2007, 02:52 PM	#2
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,432	depends on the type of cardio. The 5x5 squat program is a very intense and high volume squat program. You will overtrain the shit out of your legs trying to do that and lots of sprinting.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! http://ivonneberkowitz.blogspot.com/....check out Ivonne's new blog! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

07-15-2007, 04:29 AM	#3
JOSHBUILT Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 34	I don't know, how much cardio does a wooly mammoth do to stay fat? You be the judge you fucking asshole
JOSHBUILT Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 34

07-15-2007, 05:55 PM	#4
Duncans Donuts Stay puffed, baby. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,774 Photos: 2	i do HIIT on off days no more than 20 minutes a pop. or games of basketball (full court). i get extreme neuro fatigue from any kind of HIIT.
	"in the howling bleeding nights, the dogs plunge into the Volga and swim desperately to gain the other bank. The nights of Stalingrad are a terror for them. Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure."

07-15-2007, 07:35 PM	#5
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,405	Interval training in combination with high frequency training is tricky business. You have to monitor the ability of your legs and nervous system to fully recover doing a program outlined as above.
	The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-16-2007, 12:36 AM	#6
jasone Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 314 Photos: 6	Swimming sprints the length of the pool and walking back for 30 minutes on non leg days. I have been doing this and it works well. In the past interval training by way of running or stairmaster would cause overtraining and kill my back, knees, and ankles after a few weeks. I have been doing this for several months with no pain and feel strong. Works for me!