Running while trying to gain mass?

[Syringer]

So I'm trying to "buff up" a bit, but I still like to run and keep my endurance level high. Would running be detrimental to gaining weight? Should I just try eating more to compensate for lost calories?

 

[StageLeft]

It will hurt it but the question is how much? I would think that for the average person very little. I remember reading that big bodybuilders would shy away from cardio but you're probably not doing enough running combined with having to absolutely tweak your body for perfect muscle gain that it will hurt you.

 

[etalns]

I'm posting what I was told by Amused to the best of my recollection, so give him credit =P

You should go with a low impact workout, something like an exercise bike, stairmaster etc. That way you can still keep the cardio going, but not have the extreme amounts of weight loss that are oft affiliated with it. I'm in the same situation, personally using my exercise bike. If I recall correctly, you want to keep your HR below 160

 

[ElFenix]

nope... make sure you get the right amount of protein right after your strength training and you should be fine

 

[Heisenberg]

Running will make you lose fat, but you should be able to make that up by gaining muscle mass. Of course, you probably won't gain muscle equally for the fat you lose. A lot depends on your body and metabolism in particular. If you're concerned about losing weight, you might talk to someone knowledgable about taking supplements to help offset the loss.

 

[Amused]

High impact, high intensity, long duration cardio is counter productive to putting on muscle mass, and can actually cost you muscle mass. If you're looking to bulk up limit the intensity, duration, and impact of your cardio training. In fact, my best strength and muscle mass gains have been made while I was severely limiting my cardio to under 30 minutes, three times a week at under 130 BPM (I'm old, probably 140 for you).

When I lost weight, I gained little mass, but lost a lot of fat. I was running 4-5 miles a day, 4 days a week. When I cut that back, the muscle mass came on much faster.

But don't listen to just me. I learned what I know from the local body builders and instructors at my local gym. It's been verified in a recent post here about "fitness myths."

Look at this from Mr Connecticut:

2. A lot of cardio is the most efficient way to lose body fat. FALSE!

Excessive cardio will strip muscle mass and body fat. This is definitely not the most efficient method for losing body fat. Once you begin stripping muscle mass, your body becomes less efficient at burning body fat. Muscle is metabolically active, which simply means it stimulates the metabolism.

For each pound of muscle you put on, you will burn up to 50 additional calories per day. If you strip muscle mass, all you accomplish is sabotaging your efforts to efficiently reduce body fat.

9. You can put on a lot of muscle and lose a lot of fat at the same time. FALSE!

You can put on muscle and lose some fat in minimal amounts. However, the body functions best when it has one goal at a time. If your goal is to put on a lot of muscle, then make that your number one objective. If your goal is to lose significant body fat, then your focus should be on preserving your much earned muscle mass.

In 2001, prior to starting my training for one of my bodybuilding shows, I weighed 164 pounds (I compete as a bantam or lightweight) at 15.7 percent body fat. In 2003, prior to starting to train for a show this June, my weight was 169.5 pounds at 12.6 percent body fat. As you can see, I put on some muscle and lost some fat. The change was significant but realistic. As I prepare for my show in June, I will attempt to preserve what I?ve earned as I reduce to approximately 3 percent body fat.

This is exactly what I've pointed out before. If you want to cut, cut. If you want to put on mass, put on mass, but don;t try doing both at the same time. It's counter productive and will only frustrate you.

 

[etalns]

Originally posted by: Amused
High impact, high intensity, long duration cardio is counter productive to putting on muscle mass, and can actually cost you muscle mass. If you're looking to bulk up limit the intensity, duration, and impact of your cardio training. In fact, my best strength and muscle mass gains have been made while I was severely limiting my cardio to under 30 minutes, three times a week at under 130 BPM (I'm old, probably 140 for you).

When I lost weight, I gained little mass, but lost a lot of fat. I was running 4-5 miles a day, 4 days a week. When I cut that back, the muscle mass came on much faster.

But don't listen to just me. I learned what I know from the local body builders and instructors at my local gym. It's been verified in a recent post here about "fitness myths."

Look at this from Mr Connecticut:

2. A lot of cardio is the most efficient way to lose body fat. FALSE!

Excessive cardio will strip muscle mass and body fat. This is definitely not the most efficient method for losing body fat. Once you begin stripping muscle mass, your body becomes less efficient at burning body fat. Muscle is metabolically active, which simply means it stimulates the metabolism.

For each pound of muscle you put on, you will burn up to 50 additional calories per day. If you strip muscle mass, all you accomplish is sabotaging your efforts to efficiently reduce body fat.

9. You can put on a lot of muscle and lose a lot of fat at the same time. FALSE!

You can put on muscle and lose some fat in minimal amounts. However, the body functions best when it has one goal at a time. If your goal is to put on a lot of muscle, then make that your number one objective. If your goal is to lose significant body fat, then your focus should be on preserving your much earned muscle mass.

In 2001, prior to starting my training for one of my bodybuilding shows, I weighed 164 pounds (I compete as a bantam or lightweight) at 15.7 percent body fat. In 2003, prior to starting to train for a show this June, my weight was 169.5 pounds at 12.6 percent body fat. As you can see, I put on some muscle and lost some fat. The change was significant but realistic. As I prepare for my show in June, I will attempt to preserve what I?ve earned as I reduce to approximately 3 percent body fat.

This is exactly what I've pointed out before. If you want to cut, cut. If you want to put on mass, put on mass, but don;t try doing both at the same time. It's counter productive and will only frustrate you.

from the source himself 🙂 my apologies for misquoting him at one part.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Qosis



from the source himself 🙂 my apologies for misquoting him at one part.

Naw, you had the right idea. That's all that counts 🙂

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Hmm.. about being cut or big etc... I'm 5'8" and 135lbs.. or less. I'm in college and you know how that goes. I want to gain mass, so does this mean that I should not do much cardio and do more wieight lifting? I really don't like running... I get stitches, and my knees hurt sometimes 🙁. Also, I'm out of breath after about a quarter mile! So apparently I need to increase stamina and heart strength, but I guess this means I have to do wait until that's improved to put on muscle mass?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Hmm.. about being cut or big etc... I'm 5'8" and 135lbs.. or less. I'm in college and you know how that goes. I want to gain mass, so does this mean that I should not do much cardio and do more wieight lifting? I really don't like running... I get stitches, and my knees hurt sometimes 🙁. Also, I'm out of breath after about a quarter mile! So apparently I need to increase stamina and heart strength, but I guess this means I have to do wait until that's improved to put on muscle mass?

Well, you can build up your stamina in just a couple months following the "Couch to 5K" program here. It really works (I did it) and it's much easier than just trying to run straight through. Give it a try. You'll be surprised at how easy it is.

Then, after that, you can lighten up on the cardio and start building mass. If your knees start to bother you too much, use an elliptical trainer or bike to build up stamina.

 

[Analog]

how much running? how much lifting?

 

[VBboy]

Run to the gym and back 🙂

 

[acidvoodoo]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Hmm.. about being cut or big etc... I'm 5'8" and 135lbs.. or less. I'm in college and you know how that goes. I want to gain mass, so does this mean that I should not do much cardio and do more wieight lifting? I really don't like running... I get stitches, and my knees hurt sometimes 🙁. Also, I'm out of breath after about a quarter mile! So apparently I need to increase stamina and heart strength, but I guess this means I have to do wait until that's improved to put on muscle mass?

you wanna get bigger, you have to EAT and lift HEAVY. i was in the exact same position as you, still am infact.
i decided i wanted a change in december, and started eating loads and lifting 3 times a week. i also drank n large shakes (high protein+some extra calories, as when yer real skinny the extra calories are great)

my eating schedule looks like this:

8am-breakfast -oatmeal, milk, yoghurt
10am-sandwich+water+chocolate bar
12am-Big turkey sanwich w/ cheese in a big bread role, a banana, sometimes a chocolate eclair or 2 and a choc bar, water
3pm-peanut butter sandwich, milk, yoghurt
7pm-dinner- steak, potatoes, pasta
10pm-pb sandwich, milk

on workout days i have my n large shake after workout at 6pm, on other days i have it either at 3pm or 10pm

As you can see, i eat some "junky" type foods, but that's just for extra calories, as i'm thin and they help.

so far i have gone from 128 lbs to 140lbs, that's in a matter of 2 1/2 months


i know that alot of that will be fat, but that's fine at the moment

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
how much running? how much lifting?

I stopped running and switched to a lower impact cardio exercise when I wanted to put on mass as quickly as I could. I lowered my cardio to under 30 minutes, 3 times a week at a heart rate of under 140 BPM.

My lifting is a push/pull, five day a week program.

Mon: push
Tue: pull
Wed: legs
Thu: push
Fri: pull
Sat: off
Sun: off

I do my cardio directly after an upper body workout. That way I start burning fat quicker into the cardio workout, and can limit the time I'm doing so.