Calories or Cardio ?

MilliVanilli · 09-27-2006, 08:17 AM

in your opinion - during a contest prep, would you rather

- keep your calories higher and do more cardio ?

or

- lower your calories and do less cardio ?

Jason Pegg · 09-27-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParadiseCup

in your opinion - during a contest prep, would you rather

- keep your calories higher and do more cardio ?

or

- lower your calories and do less cardio ?

Im no expert, but I wou;d rather eat more and do more cardio/ Being hungry sucks worse than being bored!

Jason

thicknasty · 09-27-2006, 11:25 AM

I think that consuming more food and doing more cardio would keep the metabolism higher allowing you to get leaner, as apposed to less food with less cardio.

legaljuicer · 09-27-2006, 12:37 PM

oops....wrong forumn for me to answer in....I am no round table expert...sorry

bhman6 · 09-27-2006, 12:39 PM

I think adding cardio and keeping calories higher works a little better in the long run by keeping the metabolism elevated, but if the end result was the same I'd rather lay around and eat less

wakejump4me · 09-27-2006, 03:16 PM

i am not an expert but would like to give my thoughts .
i posted this on another friendly board....

I'd say both methods work if used correctly .
A) having low calories >> less cardio is needed as the workout alone is already intense enough and will keep you in a calorie deficit and if the macros are in the right ratio , which is key i believe , then most muscle could be preserved and fat is burned as fuel .
B)on the opposite , keeping calories higher >> will ensure that you are having full glycogenstores and then the type of cardio that you are doing is probably key for burning fat . you might be better off using more moderate sessions to burn fat , with this method , but i read studies that are saying that when doing hiit cardio >>more calories are burned and they are not just talking calorie as calorie but as fat calories .
anyways , i was saying both will work because i'd say it depends on the individual as well . and specifically , it could depend on someones final week before a show .
some do a carb load /shitload or other methods where they would first be depleting and then load etc... . and there are others that don't do anything as such at all .
so if i wanted to do lower calorie & less cardio , i might be doing a traditional carb load and if i were doing higher cals more cardio >>>i should be looking great and not having to load at all and just have a good waterplan etc....

just a thought , thanks

wake

MilliVanilli · 10-07-2006, 11:50 AM

hmm...i wonder if everyone else likes more cardio....

Dirkmoneyshot · 10-07-2006, 12:07 PM

cardio - but don't let skip in here as he'll disagree with all of you.

Jason Pegg · 10-08-2006, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirkmoneyshot

cardio - but don't let skip in here as he'll disagree with all of you.

Well, Skip is "That Guy."

Jason

ShulaSports · 10-13-2006, 01:17 AM

I've done it both ways. Last time I did a LOT less cardio than before and enjoyed the prep a LOT more, I also came in a bunch larger.
BUT I think because of problems with my legs I NEED more cardio to carve in at least some detail.
Which one I enjoy ? shit of course I enjoy less cardio

**homonunculus** · 10-13-2006, 10:36 AM

It will vary person to person. Some of the differences are physiological, others psychological. (How well do you deal with hunger, how does your body respond metabolically to reduced kcal, what kind of EPOC do you get from cardio, etc.).

I personally find that dropping kcal and doing no cardio works best for me, but lately I've been doing some light cardio (walking and hiking) when bulking and could probably incorporate that into a show prep.

As the research generally shows, endurance exercise interferes with the adaptation to resistance training - when I do cardio of any intensity, leg size (especially) goes to shit. For me, cardio generally means muscle loss.

-R

bhman6 · 10-13-2006, 12:09 PM

in my recent experience during my last prep I relied more on dropping calories than burning them via cardio and while I was a much happier and got relatively lean, I did lose a little bit of muscle compared to the last time I prepped when my cals were much higher but I was doing tons of cardio

for me I think one of the main differences was using low intense vs. my normal HIIT cardio.

As you pointed out Randy, it all depends on various factors, one of which being the EPOC, which for me made all the difference in getting that last little bit of fat off while eating enough to maintain workout intensity and lean tissue.

troponin · 10-13-2006, 11:09 PM

It depends on the person, their structure, and how they've responded to the diet.

For me personally, it is usually more cardio and more food.

**Ken "Skip" Hill** · 10-19-2006, 01:09 PM

The theory of more food and more cardio, ideally, is the best way. However, when push comes to shove everyone is different and some can manipulate their metabolism strictly with diet while others cannot. Some struggle with recovery while doing more cardio and lose leg size. My theory on cardio is just to do as little cardio as needed and I also cycle cardio which is not exactly a traditional way of doing it. Carbs and calories get cycled, so should cardio.

Oops.... Did that just slip out? *covers mouth with hand*

Skip

bhman6 · 10-19-2006, 01:17 PM

I think you've mentioned cardio cycling in the past

MilliVanilli · 10-19-2006, 01:19 PM

are you talking about bicycling for your cardio ?

or tricycling ?

jesus rocks · 10-19-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParadiseCup

are you talking about bicycling for your cardio ?

or tricycling ?

dadunk-chsshh

MilliVanilli · 10-19-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParadiseCup

are you talking about bicycling for your cardio ?

or tricycling ?

whichever one it was...Skip came in crazy, sic, shredded

it looked like some big giant grinded his fingers all the way up his glutes...lol

**Ken "Skip" Hill** · 10-19-2006, 01:34 PM

Quit, you're turning me on.

Skip

bankerbabe75 · 10-19-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhman6

I think you've mentioned cardio cycling in the past

I'd like to learn a little more on cardio cycling...some many days on/off? intensity cycling?

thanks for any info..

bhman6 · 10-19-2006, 07:59 PM

I've used cardio cycling in the past and without giving away too many "secrets" I basically change the cardio to coincide with changes in diet, typically putting more high intense cardio on higher calorie days and lower intense cardio on lower intense days....but thats a generality, I have been known to do the opposite as well as rotate in days of no cardio depending on what I see is going on

bankerbabe75 · 10-19-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhman6

I've used cardio cycling in the past and without giving away too many "secrets" I basically change the cardio to coincide with changes in diet, typically putting more high intense cardio on higher calorie days and lower intense cardio on lower intense days....but thats a generality, I have been known to do the opposite as well as rotate in days of no cardio depending on what I see is going on

something i guess i should play around with and see what my body reacts to. thanks for the info

dellsguy67 · 08-06-2007, 01:47 PM

EBA84 · 08-06-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhman6

I've used cardio cycling in the past and without giving away too many "secrets" I basically change the cardio to coincide with changes in diet, typically putting more high intense cardio on higher calorie days and lower intense cardio on lower intense days....but thats a generality, I have been known to do the opposite as well as rotate in days of no cardio depending on what I see is going on

This is very similar to what I also do. I try to strike a good balance between cardio and dieting so I am not doing too much of either one and risk losing muscle.

bhman6 · 08-06-2007, 02:14 PM

agreed 100%

cardio sucks, but so does not eating, lol

09-27-2006, 08:17 AM	#1
MilliVanilli Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,112	Calories or Cardio ? in your opinion - during a contest prep, would you rather - keep your calories higher and do more cardio ? or - lower your calories and do less cardio ?

09-27-2006, 12:37 PM	#4
legaljuicer Lightweight Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 446	oops....wrong forumn for me to answer in....I am no round table expert...sorry Last edited by legaljuicer : 09-27-2006 at 04:43 PM.

09-27-2006, 03:16 PM	#6
wakejump4me The Specialist Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,442	i am not an expert but would like to give my thoughts . i posted this on another friendly board.... I'd say both methods work if used correctly . A) having low calories >> less cardio is needed as the workout alone is already intense enough and will keep you in a calorie deficit and if the macros are in the right ratio , which is key i believe , then most muscle could be preserved and fat is burned as fuel . B)on the opposite , keeping calories higher >> will ensure that you are having full glycogenstores and then the type of cardio that you are doing is probably key for burning fat . you might be better off using more moderate sessions to burn fat , with this method , but i read studies that are saying that when doing hiit cardio >>more calories are burned and they are not just talking calorie as calorie but as fat calories . anyways , i was saying both will work because i'd say it depends on the individual as well . and specifically , it could depend on someones final week before a show . some do a carb load /shitload or other methods where they would first be depleting and then load etc... . and there are others that don't do anything as such at all . so if i wanted to do lower calorie & less cardio , i might be doing a traditional carb load and if i were doing higher cals more cardio >>>i should be looking great and not having to load at all and just have a good waterplan etc.... just a thought , thanks wake __________________ to save as much money as possible on all your orders from www.TrueProtein.com type AXW999 in the discountcode box 2008 NPC South Florida Bodybuilding Heavyweight Champion be my Friend on Facebook (wakejump4me@gmail.com) Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Vince Lombardi Last edited by wakejump4me : 09-27-2006 at 04:36 PM.

10-07-2006, 12:07 PM	#8
Dirkmoneyshot Roundtable Expert Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 459	cardio - but don't let skip in here as he'll disagree with all of you. __________________ Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve!!!

10-13-2006, 01:17 AM	#10
ShulaSports Middleweight Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 530	I've done it both ways. Last time I did a LOT less cardio than before and enjoyed the prep a LOT more, I also came in a bunch larger. BUT I think because of problems with my legs I NEED more cardio to carve in at least some detail. Which one I enjoy ? shit of course I enjoy less cardio __________________

09-27-2006, 11:25 AM	#3
thicknasty Bantamweight Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: panama city, fl. Posts: 130	I think that consuming more food and doing more cardio would keep the metabolism higher allowing you to get leaner, as apposed to less food with less cardio.

09-27-2006, 12:39 PM	#5
bhman6 Roundtable Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 5,499	I think adding cardio and keeping calories higher works a little better in the long run by keeping the metabolism elevated, but if the end result was the same I'd rather lay around and eat less

10-07-2006, 11:50 AM	#7
MilliVanilli Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,112	hmm...i wonder if everyone else likes more cardio....

10-13-2006, 10:36 AM	#11
homonunculus Super Moderator/Roundtable Expert Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 9,335	It will vary person to person. Some of the differences are physiological, others psychological. (How well do you deal with hunger, how does your body respond metabolically to reduced kcal, what kind of EPOC do you get from cardio, etc.). I personally find that dropping kcal and doing no cardio works best for me, but lately I've been doing some light cardio (walking and hiking) when bulking and could probably incorporate that into a show prep. As the research generally shows, endurance exercise interferes with the adaptation to resistance training - when I do cardio of any intensity, leg size (especially) goes to shit. For me, cardio generally means muscle loss. -R __________________ NOW AVAILABLE: DAVE HENRY - XTREME MEASURES VIDEO!!! <<<WATCH THE TRAILER>>> -------- FOR THE ABSOLUTELY HIGHEST QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS...AT THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PRICE... www.trueprotein.com

10-13-2006, 12:09 PM	#12
bhman6 Roundtable Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 5,499	in my recent experience during my last prep I relied more on dropping calories than burning them via cardio and while I was a much happier and got relatively lean, I did lose a little bit of muscle compared to the last time I prepped when my cals were much higher but I was doing tons of cardio for me I think one of the main differences was using low intense vs. my normal HIIT cardio. As you pointed out Randy, it all depends on various factors, one of which being the EPOC, which for me made all the difference in getting that last little bit of fat off while eating enough to maintain workout intensity and lean tissue. __________________ benhartman.com optimumnutrition.com americanbodybuilding.com rippedacademy.com proteinreport.com myspace.com/optimumnutrition myspace.com/americanbodybuilding facebook.com/group.php?gid=9788498452 facebook.com/group.php?gid=7805419287 "Force yourself out of your comfort zone. You can't grow and progress without challenge and pressure. A diamond without pressure is a piece of fucking coal."

10-13-2006, 11:09 PM	#13
troponin Roundtable Expert Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 380	It depends on the person, their structure, and how they've responded to the diet. For me personally, it is usually more cardio and more food. __________________ www.troponinnutrition.com Smarter nutrition for harder athletes www.protegenutrition.com

10-19-2006, 01:09 PM	#14
Ken "Skip" Hill Judge, Jury and Executioner Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 13,166	The theory of more food and more cardio, ideally, is the best way. However, when push comes to shove everyone is different and some can manipulate their metabolism strictly with diet while others cannot. Some struggle with recovery while doing more cardio and lose leg size. My theory on cardio is just to do as little cardio as needed and I also cycle cardio which is not exactly a traditional way of doing it. Carbs and calories get cycled, so should cardio. Oops.... Did that just slip out? covers mouth with hand Skip __________________ Leaner, harder, fuller, tighter, drier, more shredded, more ripped, more detail, more knowledge and more experience - Call it what you like but call on me: TEAMSKIP@IntenseMuscle.com TEAM SKIP clients get their protein from only one place: TRUEPROTEIN.com. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." - Luke 12:48

10-19-2006, 01:17 PM	#15
bhman6 Roundtable Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 5,499	I think you've mentioned cardio cycling in the past __________________ benhartman.com optimumnutrition.com americanbodybuilding.com rippedacademy.com proteinreport.com myspace.com/optimumnutrition myspace.com/americanbodybuilding facebook.com/group.php?gid=9788498452 facebook.com/group.php?gid=7805419287 "Force yourself out of your comfort zone. You can't grow and progress without challenge and pressure. A diamond without pressure is a piece of fucking coal."

10-19-2006, 01:19 PM	#16
MilliVanilli Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,112	are you talking about bicycling for your cardio ? or tricycling ?

10-19-2006, 01:34 PM	#19
Ken "Skip" Hill Judge, Jury and Executioner Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 13,166	Quit, you're turning me on. Skip __________________ Leaner, harder, fuller, tighter, drier, more shredded, more ripped, more detail, more knowledge and more experience - Call it what you like but call on me: TEAMSKIP@IntenseMuscle.com TEAM SKIP clients get their protein from only one place: TRUEPROTEIN.com. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." - Luke 12:48

Sponsored Links

10-19-2006, 07:59 PM	#21
bhman6 Roundtable Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 5,499	I've used cardio cycling in the past and without giving away too many "secrets" I basically change the cardio to coincide with changes in diet, typically putting more high intense cardio on higher calorie days and lower intense cardio on lower intense days....but thats a generality, I have been known to do the opposite as well as rotate in days of no cardio depending on what I see is going on __________________ benhartman.com optimumnutrition.com americanbodybuilding.com rippedacademy.com proteinreport.com myspace.com/optimumnutrition myspace.com/americanbodybuilding facebook.com/group.php?gid=9788498452 facebook.com/group.php?gid=7805419287 "Force yourself out of your comfort zone. You can't grow and progress without challenge and pressure. A diamond without pressure is a piece of fucking coal."

08-06-2007, 01:47 PM	#23
dellsguy67 Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,084	bump __________________ To save 5% on your TrueProtein.com purchase, use discount code: DAS235 -------------------------------------- SUCCESS = CONSISTENCY X TIME - Sniffy54 -------------------------------------- "Consistency can take you a log way" - Homonunculus

08-06-2007, 02:14 PM	#25
bhman6 Roundtable Expert Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 5,499	agreed 100% cardio sucks, but so does not eating, lol __________________ benhartman.com optimumnutrition.com americanbodybuilding.com rippedacademy.com proteinreport.com myspace.com/optimumnutrition myspace.com/americanbodybuilding facebook.com/group.php?gid=9788498452 facebook.com/group.php?gid=7805419287 "Force yourself out of your comfort zone. You can't grow and progress without challenge and pressure. A diamond without pressure is a piece of fucking coal."

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