cardio and bulking???

[tsarleon]

I have been reading too gain optimal mass reducing cardio is vital. But for example if i swim on the days i DO NOT work out. So I would workout everyother day, swim everyopther day aswell. You burn a shitload of calories working out, then down a shake after. What if you did this after cardio, lets say you eat 3000 cals, add cardio, burn like about 400. So during that day if you eat 400 = 3400 doesnt that replace the cals burned up? Does this make any sense??? For example eveything being equal swim burn 4oo cals, then down a shake with milk, pro, flax, some dextrose etc, then cancel each other out etc...??? Or does cardio, swimming in this case, hinder muscle growth? Swimming stretches the muslces after day of lifting, giving your heart some excercise too. little confusing, but i think i got the point across. What are your thoughts on this?

-Leon

 

[Lord_Suston]

swimming will hinder your muscle building abilities since it is not a anabolic activity, unless sprinting. It is very hard for your body to be doing these types of excercises and still put on muscle, so it usually doesn't... If it was just about calories and excercise than many marathon runners could be jacked if they ate enough, but it is not the case...

 

[tsarleon]

how is sprinting, running or swimming, anabolic???

 

[Haz]

I swim on my off days, and I haven't noticed any problems. In fact its helping alot, because its much easier on joints then running. Swimming is more like relaxation therapy for me, since the body is supported by the water.

Just don't go overboard with cardio, and you should still make decent gains.

 

[Lord_Suston]

mostly because it is short and intense, just like lifting weights. The contraction of your muscles are used at is very strenuous unlike many aerobic activities. Plus the duration is a big factor since most sprints under 1 min and most anaroebic activities are done in that time or less.... I know it sound weird but try sprinting for one day and you will feel really sore like you weightlifted the next day....

 

[=w=]

In most situations (for most individuals) you will be fine.

I am kinda sick of the marathon runner case that is always brought up whenever anyone so much as mentions cardio. There are a couple reasons for this:

1. Marathon runners have there body type becasue that is advantageous to their sport. They do not attempt to get big because that is just more weight they will have to carry for 26 miles. So first of all you will never see a huge marathon runner (even if it was possible) because it is not desireable.

2. Training for and running in a marathon is so far beyond overtraining that it should have its own word for it becasue overtraining can't even begin to describe it. This is NOT the same thing as the 400 calorie swim (in this case), or the brisk morning walks or 3 mile jogs which for some reason draw out the "look ata marathon runners body" comments. It would be like someone wondering why they cant grow by doing 400 sets of bicep curls. Is that to say that because they cant with 400 that they can not with 6-10 sets or less??? No, of course not so why compare someone's body who runs unrealistic (for most people) distances with someone who enjoys jogging a couple miles?

3. Marathon runners are weak and small because they do not provide their body with the anabolic stimulous for hypertrophy (read: lift weights), becasue as previously mentioned (see #1) it is not advantageious for them to do so.

4. Marathon runners do not eat to be big (see #1) so they will not get big. They eat a low protein diet which though at times high in calories is not conducive to growth.

For the above reasons it is obvious that the marathon comparison that always accompanies cardio questions is NOT valid. If you really enjoy your cardio and don't want to give it up then don't. For most activities (with in reason) just compensate with food (but do not forget to compensate for the EPOC of the activity as well).

**Lord_Sus: This is not directed at you, it was just something that I think about every time I see this comparrison made. This is a long (prob rambling post) but I hope I was able to kinda make a little sense. Once again just my $.02, so take it with a grain of salt. I may not reply because I have not been active on any boards in about a month but dont take that as me being disrespectful or not backing up what I say. I just dont feel like posting all that much lately and just lurk periodically.

Welp, See ya later!

 

[Haz]

Good post w, I also tend to role my eyes when people start mentioning marathon runners and other endurance athletes when talking about cardio. Most people on these boards have NO IDEA the UNBELIEVALBE amount of cardio they do. Also, you are right, they don't want muscles, because its just more weight for them to drag around.

I spend alot of time on cycling boards, and they are always worried about putting on upper body muscle. They are actually afriad of gaining weight, and their goal is to be as light as possible, while maintaining as much leg strength as they can. For them, doing 20 hours of cardio a week isn't jack shit. On their longer rides, they will go for 6-7 hours straight, and that is just the club riders; the stuff the pros do is mind boggling.

Saying you will look like a marathon runner, because you do moderate amounts of cardio, is like saying you'll look like Dorian Yates if you lift heavy weights.

 

[tsarleon]

All good points, thans for the discussion. Haz what does your swimming routine look like? I was thinking just going out and swimming some laps, nothing too stressful, like you said, relax. Maybe sprints eventually. Any thoughts Haz?

-Leon

 

[Lord_Suston]

I only agree with some of the fore mentioned statements, but if TsarLeon want to gain mass at an optimum rate why do so much cardio???? I personally think it wil hinder building muscle more than just lifting weights by themselves....

 

[Haz]

Right now my only cardio is swimming, because I'm trying to rest up my knees. I swim for about 30 minutes at an easy pace, which usually comes out to 50 lengths of a 25 yard pool. I do that about 4 or 5 times a week.

It took me awhile to get the hang of swimming though. However, once you get the breathing and balance down, you can go nice and slow without tireing yourself out.