Afraid to do Cardio

[Lemieux]

(I have searched this topic, but found nothing but contradicting info)

So I have been lifting for the past year and a half and have put on a godd 15 pounds putting me at 165. I still am in my mass building phase and plan on it for a while, yet I have stopped doing cardio. I play hockey and i found that lifting, hockey, and cardio lowerd my bodyweight significantly.

I want to do cardio to mantian good cardio conditioing for hockey but I dont want to lose weight. I eat plenty enough, but im afraid that I could do this wrong.

Should i do cardio for 20 minutes after i wake up, or later in the day. Would I only do it on off days? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[CrazyRussi]

Lemiuex I reccomend doing HIIT cardio on your off days. My favorite is Guerilla Cardio, try doing a forum search for it. It only takes 9-13 minutes, so your body doesn't have time to target the muscle as energy. Yet it still works you out just as good as if not better than jogging for 45 minutes. It's probably the one of the best if not THE best ways to get conditioned without losing muscle.

Remember to eat a lot of good carbs right after you cardio, such as a bowl of oatmeal with milk. Oh yeah, one of the most important things : do it in THE MORNING. Doing cardio in the morning will boost your metabolism for the rest of the day. Plus, who wants to run having already consumed 4 meals?

I like to do it on an empty stomach. Some people like to consume a light meal 30 or so minutes before cardio to get some fuel in. My thing is, why consume calories, and then run to burn those calories that you've just consumed...?

[LifterMike]

Response to Russi's question. The calories you burn during the run are only a small benefit, boosting your metabolism is the key, so that you burn more calories throughout the day, and with consistant cardio, the numbers add up in the metabolisms increased efficiency vs. calories burnt during the run. DOnt get me wrong you can burn up a beast amount during a high intensity cardio session, but if you can push your metabolism too higher levels of activity with something in your stomach, allowing you to fuel your run stronger, then I say do it. my 2 cents. :

[Axion]

In response to Ruski's comment part two:

The reason it's important to eat somthing before doin cardio is that after your glycogen stores are depleted your body must start running off of other sources, either fat or protein. And, as I read, your body can't metabolize fat without proteing. The book gave the analogy, that your body burns fat in the fire started by carbs. If your run out of carbs that fire goes out and your body can't matabolize fat either, so then it's starts using protein. This is where you get musscle break down.

[grambo]

Lemieux, are you currently playing hockey? or prepairing to do so?

what is your planned routine, cardio and lifting wise?

[Lemieux]

Well im preparing to play hockey this fall. Currently I am lifting mon, tues, thurs, fri.

[grambo]

I second the hiit cardio...off days only(max twice a week)...


whats your weight routine like?

[Lemieux]

Monday: Legs
Tuesday: Chest
Wedsnday: Off
Thursday: Back & Traps
Friday: Shoulders, Tris, Bis

[grambo]

thats more of a body-builder type split, ideally something aimed towards strength will benefit your hockey more. Which is why, and im assuming, you're lifting weights.

[Lemieux]

Im doing the bodybuilder split to put on size, which is something i really need. But if you have suggestions for a better plan, i would really appreciate it.

As well, could somone elaborate on Hitt Cardio.