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by A..J..W on November 14th, 2006

A..J..W

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If I want to put on weight and increase my muscle mass should I reduce the amount of cardiovascular work I do?

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Answers. 9 helpful answers below.

  • by Biggie G on December 18th, 2007

    Biggie G

    No, don't reduce the cardio workouts. Once you acheive the muscle mass you are working towards, the cardio will keep the fat level down and give you that "cut" look. Besides being healthy, cardio helps with definition.

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  • by Anonymous on June 10th, 2007

    Anonymous

    Nope, not necessary to reduce your cardio. Cardiovascular exercise has many benefits other than helping your body to burn fat (which you ought to do anyway, if you want to build muscle mass and look toned and not just lumpy). Keep up with the cardio, and incorporate lots of weight bearing exercise into your regimen. Make sure you're eating enough calories and protein.

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  • by rptwinkie on June 10th, 2007

    rptwinkie

    never never never EVER reduce the amount of cardio you do. The only weight you want is good weight, and lifting while trying to build muscles is the only way to get good weight. Cardio exercise helps build muscle, too, so it's not JUST weight lifting that makes you stronger. You do not simply "burn weight" every time you do cardio exercise... in fact, depending on how fast you go, you could burn a lot less fat than you actually think. Cardio, for the sake of helping and improving your heart, is at a faster speed than a fat-burning level would be. NEVER sacrifice your heart for the sake of trying to look big.

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  • by larrymcjon on November 14th, 2006

    larrymcjon

    Reducing your cardiovascular work will only make you fat and not increase your muscle mass.

    If you really want to increase your muscle mass, you should increase your intake of protein and increase the repetitions to your strength resitance regimen. You should exercise 'till failure and allow adequate time for recovery.

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  • by Who? on April 18th, 2008

    Who?

    No. When you lift weight, make sure that you do high weight and low reps on all variations. After that, do some toning lifts, such as burnouts. The cardio is important for warming up because it allows blood to get to the muscle so it is easily accessible during the intense workout. Also, ride a bike when cooling down, especially when legs were worked on because the motion helps with the knee.

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  • by jay123 on February 24th, 2008

    jay123

    I, myself, have hit the dilemma you are probably suffering from.

    You want to gain weight but you want it in muscle, but don't want to gain fat and want to be fit, not just a strong person but can barely run. Cardio exercises increase fitness but the problems here are when you have exhausted your energy sources readily avaliable you begin to break down your muscles (glycogen), this can have adverse effects on your muscle mass project as it can result in undoing some of what you've been doing.

    There's two ways;

    1) Continue with extensive endurance cardio and increase calorie intake - to about 6,000 a day (for a male). This doesn't mean eat cakes, you need to have 6000 proper healthy calories and believe me that's not as easy as you think, it's quite expensive and it's not that pleasurable. It can be done but it seems as if it begins to take over.

    2) Which is the best way around it that I have found is to look at the sprinter. Increase calorie intake to an extent, as you would have to do so anyway, the best way is just 3 decent meals plus normal extras through-out the day and then 2 protien shakes, do your weights and when on cardio do sprints and work the muscles and heart rather than gently use the muscles. Go on a circuit of cardio training with about 5 minutes- 10 minutes at a fast pace, in contrast to 20 minutes at a steady or mildly adjusting pace. However, do remember to warm up first and warm down afterwards. This way you continue with cardio but don't eat away at your hard work. Let's be honest, doing weights to gain mass rather than just being fit HURTS and that's the whole point of it. So you've got to keep an eye on what you're doing in order to stop yourself undoing the pain and effort you've endured.

    This site explains it well:

    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kelly3.htm

    So, pending on how much cardio you do, you may have to cut it. It seems as if you need to bulk up first (though this doesn't have to mean fat, so long as you eat right) and then trim the fat off afterwards. If you're slim then you needn't trim the fat off, regular weights session, healthy food with body weight exercises such as sit ups will maintain a low body fat % and extensive cardio' may be good every week in order to maintain health.

    P.S, NEVER do cardio after a weights session, this will invalidate your weights session. Cardio first, day break, weights session, day break.

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  • by eric on February 24th, 2008

    eric

    Try 2 a days. (for a while) If you can handle it. Plenty of rest in between. At least 50 grams of protein. Never slighten a good cardio program.

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  • by Seraphim Shinobi on February 24th, 2008

    Seraphim Shinobi

    don't reduce the cardio, just do weights aswell

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  • by snakesncrocks on November 14th, 2006

    snakesncrocks

    do weights

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