Running Time

[aolsux00]

I'm trying to lose weight so I increased my cardio from 1 hour to almost 2 hours (1 and a half to two hours) five to six times a week. My trainer said its going to burn muscle if do that much cardio. Will it help if I take a protein shake before my runs? Thanks

[LiveHuge]

if your goal if fat loss while trying to maintain muscle there is no reason to ever cardio for more than 45 minutes. And taking a protein shake before you run would be pointless as you would only be using this as your energy fuel in your cardio session while you are trying to target fat. I don't usually advise my hardcore lifters to run in the first place. Just maintain the right 65% max heart rate for at least 30 minutes on an empty stomach.

[aolsux00]

if your goal if fat loss while trying to maintain muscle there is no reason to ever cardio for more than 45 minutes. And taking a protein shake before you run would be pointless as you would only be using this as your energy fuel in your cardio session while you are trying to target fat. I don't usually advise my hardcore lifters to run in the first place. Just maintain the right 65% max heart rate for at least 30 minutes on an empty stomach.

Is there a reason for the 45 minute limit? Even my heart rate is at the fat burning zone the whole time?

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

If you don't mind losing a tad bit of muscle, it will be fine. Do not have a shake before cardio. Cardio is best done on an empty stomach.

What exactly is your goal here? Just to lose fat? With a clean cutting diet, and 6 cardio days/week, for 1 hour at 65% MHR, you will see nice results. And maybe looking into an ECA stack. It works great. You shouldn't have to sacrafice muscle to lose some fat.

[aolsux00]

If you don't mind losing a tad bit of muscle, it will be fine. Do not have a shake before cardio. Cardio is best done on an empty stomach.

What exactly is your goal here? Just to lose fat? With a clean cutting diet, and 6 cardio days/week, for 1 hour at 65% MHR, you will see nice results. And maybe looking into an ECA stack. It works great. You shouldn't have to sacrafice muscle to lose some fat.

Yes, I just want to lose fat, my goal is to lose another 20-25 pounds, I went from 205 to 175 pounds (I'm 23, 5'9, 16%BF) and I'm trying to get below 10% BF. I'm am having a very hard time losing the rest of my weight, I just started taking Meridia which I'm hoping will help curb my apetite.

[nyjetsfan86]

over training, going to lose a lot of muscle

[aolsux00]

over training, going to lose a lot of muscle

Just in my legs? Or all over?

[perfectbeast2001]

If you need to do that much cardio then there is something VERY wrong with your diet. Post it up, lets have a look.

[aolsux00]

If you need to do that much cardio then there is something VERY wrong with your diet. Post it up, lets have a look.

I'm not following any diets in the forum, I'm just trying to keep my calories down.

Breakfast
2 cups special K with low fat soymilk

Snack
Salad with vinegar

Lunch
1 Scoop choclate protein shake blended with banana and ice

Snack
Fruit - Usually a plum or an apple

Dinner
Protein Shake with salad

[MFT81]

^^ WOW,

so many things wrong with what your doing.......where to start.....

[juiceball44]

I'm not following any diets in the forum, I'm just trying to keep my calories down.

Breakfast
2 cups special K with low fat soymilk

Snack
Salad with vinegar

Lunch
1 Scoop choclate protein shake blended with banana and ice

Snack
Fruit - Usually a plum or an apple

Dinner
Protein Shake with salad

are you a women? because you eat like my mother but she atleast gets one real protein source in her diet

[AandF6969]

That is a terrible diet. You're losing a ton of muscle and slowing your metabolism down.

Muscle maintenance should be #1 in any cutting diet IMO... because muscle is the key to having a high metabolism, and losing even more fat.