Cardio or No Cardio?

[True_Lou]

I just started my first cycle of Test-C at 400mg a week for 10 weeks. I've trained for the past five years primarily to put on size and weight; the problem is a lot of it stays around my belly area and it's hard to get rid of. I'm taking the cycle to get bigger and don't mind if I put on a few inches around the midsection. If I can though, I'd also like to use this cycle as an opportunity to gain size *and* cut fat if possible.

My initial plan was to abandon cardio while on the cycle for fear of losing precious calories. But, if I still do cardio, will I sacrifice increases in size and weight because the body has less energy to grow from? Would it better to hold off on the cardio until the cycle is done and shred the fat the natural way?

Age:24
Weight:170lb
Height:5''8'
BF:15%

[HawaiianPride.]

Do cardio, just don't do it excessively. You need cardiovascular training regardless of bulk or cut. Provided your feeding yourself enough, it will not hinder your gains.

[D7M]

Do cardio, just don't do it excessively. You need cardiovascular training regardless of bulk or cut. Provided your feeding yourself enough, it will not hinder your gains.

Agreed.

Cardio works one of your most important muscles....your heart.

Mild cardio will NOT hinder your gains!

[Bulkn]

What do you concider is 'mild' cardio?

[D7M]

I like low intensity cardio, 30-40min, a few times a week while "bulking"

[HawaiianPride.]

^Good baseline there, asses accordingly if need be.

[heyyallsup]

Another suggestion, if I may:
There has been some study on the subject and it has been suggested that timing cardio and weight training workouts apart from each other could assist in the development of both.
The hormonal cocktail that is present after standard endurance cardio is directly antagonistic to the signal hormones, and protein pathways, that are present during and after weightlifting, ans assist in hypertrophy. By spreading the two away from each other, it has been suggested, that both are achieved more efficiently.

The only problem is that there is no evidence one way or the other weather HIIT cardio is the same way.

Good luck!

[True_Lou]

Would doing my cardio the day after weight training have an effect on my rest and recovery? Instead of doing Legs or Chest on Monday and resting on Tuesday, I would do cardio on Tuesday instead and then move on to the next muscle group on Wednesday. Would doing my cardio before or after each workout be better?

Would there be any consequences to avoiding cardio completely until my 10-week cycle is over? This is my first cycle and it's solely for building muscle and gaining weight. Can I just concentrate on bulking and do a cutting/fat-buring period after the cycle is complete? I've *never* done cardio while off Test-C and think doing so will lower my weight gain results in the end. (For example...Without cardio: Week 1 - 170lb, Week 10 - 200lb. With cardio: Week 1 - 170lb, Week 10 - 190lb.)