Do I need cardio to lose fat during a cut?

[john283]

I know cardio is optional, I'm currenly eating:
2140 calories
175g protein
180g carbs
70g fat

Working out 5 times a week with a 50 calorie warm-up on treadmill.

I'm 5"11 170lb 13%bf trying to get to 9% body fat without losing muscle. I am losing 1lb a week but I'm not getting much more vascular and my muscles don't seem hard. Would doing cardio make a SIGNIFICANT difference or is it really just the simple math explanation. If i burn 100 calories running daily, that's 700 a week, that's about 1lb a month and nothing more to it?

Thanks.

[Pushem out]

It's been my experience, If I'm trying to cut, cardio is a must. The absolute must here is a proper, "clean" diet. Light weight high rep work outs help with the cut as well. Expect some loss of muscle, but proper balance of those three will help keep losses to a minimum. The plus side- you'll be nice and toned for that bulk up after your cut. :-)

[john283]

Thanks for the reply mate, my lifts are decent right now but I have noticed that I can only rep, for example, deadlift for 6 reps as opposed to my prior 8. I think it's due to weakness from eating less. I dropped from 475g carbs to 180g in a few days haha.

I'll add in a mile on the treadmill a few times a week. If nothing else, it'll at least make my heart healthy

[Bio-Active]

I do cardio for 30-40 minutes right after training 5 days EW

[john283]

I always heard too much cardio burns muscle. When you run, you burn calories from fat and carbs only, right? So the more you run, the lower your carb and fat intake for the day becomes and protein remains unchanged?

[Bio-Active]

I always heard too much cardio burns muscle. When you run, you burn calories from fat and carbs only, right? So the more you run, the lower your carb and fat intake for the day becomes and protein remains unchanged?

no it only burns muscle if you get outside of the fat burning zone. Keep your heart rate at or below 130 Bpm

[john283]

no it only burns muscle if you get outside of the fat burning zone. Keep your heart rate at or below 130 Bpm

Oh wow, I was never aware that that was true, sounds good. My heart rate is like 80 resting, it goes to 130 with a light jog (which is bad ) Thank you!

[Bio-Active]

Oh wow, I was never aware that that was true, sounds good. My heart rate is like 80 resting, it goes to 130 with a light jog (which is bad ) Thank you!

I just walk on a slight incline with the speed at about 2.4

[john283]

Would it be better to jog at 6 mpg for 2 min then walk for 2 min for a total of 100 calories or do HIIT for 100 calories or do what you said for 100?

Is 100 calories just 100 calories at the end? I heard HIIT was good for fat loss.

[Bio-Active]

Would it be better to jog at 6 mpg for 2 min then walk for 2 min for a total of 100 calories or do HIIT for 100 calories or do what you said for 100? Is 100 calories just 100 calories at the end? I heard HIIT was good for fat loss.

if your training is on par you really shouldn't need to. The idea is that your already in the fat burning zone after you finish lifting so going straight to the treadmill and keeping your heart rate in the targeted area you should be fine

[john283]

Thanks again, I appreciate the advice

[Bio-Active]

Good luck brother! Smash your goals

[tarmyg]

Anyone stating that cardio, in anyway shape or form, is burning muscle really need to read a bit more. Reducing calories can burn muscle, cardio can not. Anyone stating anything else is incorrect.

[dfarre]

No, cardio is not needed, if you are an active male. For women and inactive small men it is needed, because they just can't get a big enough deficit.

I haven't done cardio in years and my resting heart rate is 55.

[Docd187123]

Cardio *may* help but it's not needed. This is assuming you're not trying to get contest lean.

[< <Samson> >]

I just walk on a slight incline with the speed at about 2.4

Ha ha

Same exact shit I do, but I push it to a grueling 2.7 just cause with a aight incline

30-60mins 4-6x a week


Burns muscle - strange, I'm still getting bigger


I think cardio helps with more than just weight loss - it's good for heart, specially of a juicer IMO along with other things

[Bio-Active]

Ha ha Same exact shit I do, but I push it to a grueling 2.7 just cause with a aight incline 30-60mins 4-6x a week Burns muscle - strange, I'm still getting bigger I think cardio helps with more than just weight loss - it's good for heart, specially of a juicer IMO along with other things

yeah you can eat more if your doing cardio as well

[kelkel]

All that time you guys are doing cardio, I'm eating.

[< <Samson> >]

yeah you can eat more if your doing cardio as well

Exactly

But, this still does not mean eat more crap food.

[Docd187123]

Exactly

But, this still does not mean eat more crap food.

It's about moderation not labelling a food crap or not. I eat plenty of what ppl call crap and it hasn't made a damned bit of difference from when I ate clean except for the fact that I'm much happier with my diet now than before.

[RaginCajun]

All that time you guys are doing cardio, I'm eating.

been wondering how long it was going to take you to reply to this thread

i bet your fingers were itching

[Bio-Active]

All that time you guys are doing cardio, I'm eating.

and we are getting leaner

[< <Samson> >]

It's about moderation not labelling a food crap or not. I eat plenty of what ppl call crap and it hasn't made a damned bit of difference from when I ate clean except for the fact that I'm much happier with my diet now than before.

It's more of a personal opinion

When I say crap - I mean going out for pizza after the gym

Or straight donuts for breakfast


There's no nutritional value in the 2nd at all

[Bio-Active]

It's about moderation not labelling a food crap or not. I eat plenty of what ppl call crap and it hasn't made a damned bit of difference from when I ate clean except for the fact that I'm much happier with my diet now than before.

you have to have balance and if dieting makes a person miserable then the person needs to determine if it's really worth it to achieve the goal. I have been fortunate to find foods that I enjoy so eating (clean) is not a chore for me. I look forward to every meal that I consume

[Docd187123]

It's more of a personal opinion

When I say crap - I mean going out for pizza after the gym

Or straight donuts for breakfast


There's no nutritional value in the 2nd at all

Of course it's a personal opinion, that's what labelling foods good or bad is...an opinion. I don't eat doghnuts for their nutritional value. I eat them bc they taste good but truth be told I rarely eat them. My diet has adeuqate micros for the most part. I regularly go out for burgers before or after a workout, especially when bulking. I would substitute pizza for the burgers but I don't eat cheese.

[Docd187123]

you have to have balance and if dieting makes a person miserable then the person needs to determine if it's really worth it to achieve the goal. I have been fortunate to find foods that I enjoy so eating (clean) is not a chore for me. I look forward to every meal that I consume

I agree it's about balancing things that's what I meant about moderation. The food choices you make have far less impact on body comp than the amount of calories, macros, etc do. The point about dieting being miserable and achieving goals is that IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE MISERABLE. Many ppl make it out to be that way though. I've read many threads about ppl unhappy with their diets but think only clean foods can get them the results they want. A few substitutions of dirty foods they enjoy would make a hell of a difference towards consistency. I enjoy everything I eat otherwise I wouldn't eat it but I also eat WHATEVER I want to eat and don't restrict myself from what I want simply bc it happens to be on an arbitrarily made "clean or dirty" list of foods

[Bio-Active]

I agree it's about balancing things that's what I meant about moderation. The food choices you make have far less impact on body comp than the amount of calories, macros, etc do. The point about dieting being miserable and achieving goals is that IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE MISERABLE. Many ppl make it out to be that way though. I've read many threads about ppl unhappy with their diets but think only clean foods can get them the results they want. A few substitutions of dirty foods they enjoy would make a hell of a difference towards consistency. I enjoy everything I eat otherwise I wouldn't eat it but I also eat WHATEVER I want to eat and don't restrict myself from what I want simply bc it happens to be on an arbitrarily made "clean or dirty" list of foods

agreed brother the only reason it might be worth it to be miserable would be short term to get that last bit of stubborn fat off for a show but I would rather not to that anymore

[< <Samson> >]

I don't see how people say cardio is miserable

Quite a few dif forms:

Just walk & stare at ass for 30-60 minutes
High impact short burst
Fvck, play basketball - very good cardio
HIIT - least liked of mine

And so on

I mob the treadmill & catch up on my emails from yesterday & check out asses - can't see this as miserable

[Bio-Active]

I don't see how people say cardio is miserable Quite a few dif forms: Just walk & stare at ass for 30-60 minutes High impact short burst Fvck, play basketball - very good cardio HIIT - least liked of mine And so on I mob the treadmill & catch up on my emails from yesterday & check out asses - can't see this as miserable

I like doing cardio it give me time to listen to music

[< <Samson> >]

I like doing cardio it give me time to listen to music

Oh yeah, that 2

Shit, walking and rolling through emails ATM

[Docd187123]

agreed brother the only reason it might be worth it to be miserable would be short term to get that last bit of stubborn fat off for a show but I would rather not to that anymore

Completely agree. To get contest lean or that last bit of fat off you will need to use things that just aren't needed for your average lean/cut guy. Luckily for me my sport of choice happens to be powerlifting so I'm afforded the luxury of not always having to be lean hahaha

[Docd187123]

I don't see how people say cardio is miserable

Quite a few dif forms:

Just walk & stare at ass for 30-60 minutes
High impact short burst
Fvck, play basketball - very good cardio
HIIT - least liked of mine

And so on

I mob the treadmill & catch up on my emails from yesterday & check out asses - can't see this as miserable

I do enjoy sex for cardio. LISS sex, HIIT sex, etc are all acceptable forms of cardio for me

[< <Samson> >]

I do enjoy sex for cardio. LISS sex, HIIT sex, etc are all acceptable forms of cardio for me

LMFAO

Ha ha

I was thinking that shit last night while sweating bullets - this counts don't it?!

30+ min HIIT sessions

[Docd187123]

LMFAO

Ha ha

I was thinking that shit last night while sweating bullets - this counts don't it?!

30+ min HIIT sessions

Of course it counts. One trick to burning more calories is to put it in the butt. The increased resistance and friction all while trying to hold on when she (or he depending on your proclivity) bucks like a caged animal will result in more calories burned in the same amount of time.

[Bio-Active]

Completely agree. To get contest lean or that last bit of fat off you will need to use things that just aren't needed for your average lean/cut guy. Luckily for me my sport of choice happens to be powerlifting so I'm afforded the luxury of not always having to be lean hahaha

you lucky dog I do enjoy everything that comes with this lifestyle though. Putting in the work is worth the reward for sure

[< <Samson> >]

Of course it counts. One trick to burning more calories is to put it in the butt. The increased resistance and friction all while trying to hold on when she (or he depending on your proclivity) bucks like a caged animal will result in more calories burned in the same amount of time.

Fvck you man


Jesus, I actually started laughing in the line at the post office


I'm taking this shit srsly, her ass is grass

[kelkel]

been wondering how long it was going to take you to reply to this thread

i bet your fingers were itching

You know I enjoy inserting my nonsense in cardio threads. Otherwise I'd have nothing to say. Not that saying nothing would be a bad thing..........I know.......

And Bio I'm always lean! if I had feelings they'd be hurt! Gonna take my ball and go home now.....

[workinprogress21]

All that time you guys are doing cardio, I'm eating.

Lol if only eating burned as many cals as cardio...

[bass]

All that time you guys are doing cardio, I'm eating.

I hate you!

[< <Samson> >]

Shit, I'm tired of eating more than doing cardio

4k cal a day of whole food a day feels like a ton of bricks