To eat or not to eat

Blaze · 29-Jan-07, 12:09 PM

I know this has been discussed before, but I was always confused by it.

Before doing cardio, any form, but in my case, HIIT..Should I eat an hour before...considering I'm doing it first thing in the morning, or do I run on an empty stomach. Which promotes fat loss more?

And what about eating after wards?

sooner_ed · 29-Jan-07, 12:54 PM

Always always eat after cardio.

Before HIIT, eat, in my opinion.

F_Mac · 29-Jan-07, 12:59 PM

If you're doing HIIT, I would definitely get something in your stomach beforehand.

If it were low intensity, you could probably get away with an empty stomach.

Blaze · 29-Jan-07, 01:16 PM

Okay, thanks guys

**Lady C** · 29-Jan-07, 01:17 PM

I have read up on this alot lately. My concensus is eat a small protein meal 30 mins before REGARLESS of cardio type to spare any possibility of muscle wasting. This could be a small 20-30 gms whey shake.

**.V.** · 29-Jan-07, 01:30 PM

Agreed, if you are doing HIIT, feed it. The fat burning from it seems to be indirect from having your metabolism jacked up the rest of the day. Where if you are going to just walk first thing in the morning to directly burn fat while your glycogen stores are low you probably don't want to eat.

However, as Lady C already stated, there is some risk of muscle catabolism from that. Although the two people who convinced me that this is also a viable fat loss alternative method both seem to have found SOME way to spare muscle from this type of low output cardio. The guy is close to 300lbs and the gal is probably close to 200lbs and both have plenty of muscle, both are plenty lean.

**.V.** · 29-Jan-07, 01:38 PM

Another thought based on your other similar question in the other thread. Although I hate HIIT personally (I don't deny it's effectiveness, I just don't like doing it), all my recent cardio seems to be moving in that direction even when I've planned to do something less intense.

By eating every 2-3 hours, I'm covered for it without a special meal. I just time it somewhere in the middle of my morning or early afternoon feeding frenzy and seem to have enough energy to do it. No specific feeding just for the cardio, only letting it happen about an hour after one meal and finishing up about 15-30 minutes before the next one. That's how I do it anyway. I can't say it's best, but it's what I'm doing.

Suprisingly although my current goals include eating for performance not physique, I seem to be very slowly gaining weight again (only about 1/2 lb/week) and my body fat level seems to be going down. Sneaking back up on 200lbs and the 32" waist of the jeans is getting looser instead of tighter. I haven't actually measured but there is now room for a full sized IWB Ruger instead of just a Walther.

Khaine · 29-Jan-07, 01:42 PM

I hate the 'cardio on empty stomach' idea... It's about as reputable as 'squats are bad for your knees' and the Ab King Pro...

Blaze · 29-Jan-07, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khaine

I hate the 'cardio on empty stomach' idea... It's about as reputable as 'squats are bad for your knees' and the Ab King Pro...

lol. Yeah I agree on those last too...the whole "I can't do squats because my knees are bad" gets pretty old.

So in your guys opinion then, is this gonna cause any crazy muscle cataclysm that I don't want. Or do you think I can still gain and go up in strength while doing this HIIT twice a week?

I'm mainly doing it too to make sure I get at least SOME cardio in, and if I'm im gonna do cardio, I just assume to HIIT

**.V.** · 29-Jan-07, 01:53 PM

Yes, you can gain in size, strength, and cardiovascular capability by doing this...if you are eating and sleeping.

Khaine · 29-Jan-07, 02:08 PM

HIIT twice a week along with weightlifting is fine... As long as both workouts are being fed, they don't contradict each other at all... So yea, no muscle cataclysm[sic]...

Maxgain · 29-Jan-07, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaze

So in your guys opinion then, is this gonna cause any crazy muscle cataclysm that I don't want. Or do you think I can still gain and go up in strength while doing this HIIT twice a week?

About 20 minutes of cardio, how much muscle do you think you would actually break down. Its an overhyped issue.

sooner_ed · 29-Jan-07, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxgain

About 20 minutes of cardio, how much muscle do you think you would actually break down. Its an overhyped issue.

Thank you very much. MUCH overhyped.

Khaine · 29-Jan-07, 02:36 PM

The excessive cardio debate has more to do with hormonal responses than actual tissue breakdown... Oh, and inflammation...

Maxgain · 29-Jan-07, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khaine

The excessive cardio debate has more to do with hormonal responses than actual tissue breakdown... Oh, and inflammation...

overhyped!!!