Question 7 Is cardio a necessary evil for bodybuilders

to get in shape or is it best to focus on weight training and diet alone?

Fat Loss Roundtable With The Experts

Layne Norton Is cardio a necessary evil for bodybuilders to get in shape or is it best to focus on

weight training and diet alone?

“Well I think that most people should do some cardio so they don't have to be super restrictive on food intake.

Also high intensity interval cardio improves overall fat loss capacity by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis.

So I think it's almost always good to include some form of high intensity intervals. However, I think doing 2 hours of low intensity cardio per day or those kind of recommendations are completely asinine and counter productive. In fact, too much low intensity cardio can actually REDUCE metabolic rate over time. ”

Alan AragonIs cardio a necessary evil for bodybuilders to get in shape or is it best to focus on

weight training and diet alone?

“Cardio is a good tool, and it necessity or benefit depends on the person's goal. Fundamentally speaking, the least amount of cardio should be done to make fat loss progress, since it can always be incrementally increased in order to get the job done. With that said, some people have specific endurance-oriented or athletic goals that are not accomplished through the weight training program itself, so in that case, cardio should be done to the full extent necessary to fulfill those goals. And on the other hand, there are weight training programs that have short rest periods and plenty of supersets, dropsets, or circuits, thus having a significant cardio-respiratory effect on their own. The latter decreases the need for formal cardio on top of that, unless muscular endurance is the top priority. For bodybuilding specifically, I'd have to reiterate that the best approach is to begin with the least amont of cardio to get the results you're looking for, in order to minimize interference with the goal of building muscle. ”

“Depends.

Some people actually do better with 5-6 days of lifting weights with just some easy walking or none at all if they have a physically active day job.

Some do just 3 weight workouts and 2-3 sessions of intervals or circuit/complexes per week - not just with weights but various implements such as kettlebells, elastic bands, sandbags, prostitutes and so on.

The latter being optional as they usually cost more money, and may induce a burning sensation when you urinate. But I digress.”

Borge FagerliIs cardio a necessary evil for bodybuilders to get in shape or is it best to focus on

weight training and diet alone?

“No I don't think body builders need to spend 30 minutes on the treadmill in order to help burn fat.

I think it is good to do some type of cardio training for overall fitness, there's not much point being stacked and looking the business if you have to run for a bus and end up needing an oxygen cylinder to recover. Similar cardio improvements can be seen by doing intervals.

Coming from a rowing background I like to use the rowing machine for this as it lessens the impact on the joints that may be an issue for heavier guys and it is an all over workout as well.”

Gavin AllinsonIs cardio a necessary evil for bodybuilders to get in shape or is it best to focus on

weight training and diet alone?

“ I think it’s better to do weights and diet – I think a lot of body builders do too much cardio and tire themselves out, lose muscle mass and probably change muscle fibre type.”

Matt LovellIs cardio a necessary evil for bodybuilders to get in shape or is it best to focus on

weight training and diet alone?