post training cardio intensity

[ramacher]

How long should cardio be after working out with weights and at what intensity? I hate losing that pump.

[Dr Pepper]

I do 20 mins HIIT 2 times a week after weights 1 min on 1 min off

[joshh]

low intensity only, i do a 45 minute walk after lifting. you DON'T want to be doing high intensity as your glycogen stores are depleted and we don't want your body to start breaking down more muscle

[Dr Pepper]

low intensity only, i do a 45 minute walk after lifting. you DON'T want to be doing high intensity as your glycogen stores are depleted and we don't want your body to start breaking down more muscle

Doubt your body will start breaking down muscle for energy if your dieting properly

[joshh]

Doubt your body will start breaking down muscle for energy if your dieting properly

where is your body going to get energy from? after lifting your body is in a catabolic state.

[Back In Black]

OP, depends on your goals. What are they? Fitness? Fat loss? Stamina?

Post lifting energy shouldn't be an issue. I have no issue lifting for 45-60 mins then knocking out 20-30 mins of HIIT or low intensity cardio. Catabolism, as Dr says, shouldn't be an issue if your diet is in check. Any catabolism will be quickly arrested with the proper PWO nutrition. If the C word was such a bad thing we'd all be waking 4 hours into our sleep to get some protein in us, but we don't really do that, do we?!?!

[Dr Pepper]

OP, depends on your goals. What are they? Fitness? Fat loss? Stamina?

Post lifting energy shouldn't be an issue. I have no issue lifting for 45-60 mins then knocking out 20-30 mins of HIIT or low intensity cardio. Catabolism, as Dr says, shouldn't be an issue if your diet is in check. Any catabolism will be quickly arrested with the proper PWO nutrition. If the C word was such a bad thing we'd all be waking 4 hours into our sleep to get some protein in us, but we don't really do that, do we?!?!

Thanks stem, u put it a bit better than I could of...

[gbrice75]

low intensity only, i do a 45 minute walk after lifting. you DON'T want to be doing high intensity as your glycogen stores are depleted and we don't want your body to start breaking down more muscle

Incorrect. There isn't a person on this board who can deplete their glycogen stores in a single workout, particularly those who are regularly eating carbs, and/or eat a pre-workout meal containing carbs. Too much broscience.

Quite the contrary actually. PWO is an excellent time to do higher intensity cardio as you still have some fuel from your pre workout meal... or if that's been used up then fat stores are next... in either case your body will have absolutely no reason to burn LBM. It's an inefficient process, not something your body 'wants' to do. Basically, a last resort metabolic function.

The only time I wouldn't do high intensity work is in a fasted state, simply because there is no immediate energy source and you likely have been burning fat (albeit slowly) as you progress throughout your fast.

[baseline_9]

I am currently doing 30 mins 3x per week medium intensity cardio on the cross trainer

I get my heart rate up to about 175bpm


I prefer the shorter sessions and dont really wanna push it past 30 mins....

But goals are the main thing to take into consideration....