What do you do you for cardio??

[cdmccool]

Nevermind. I don't mean to hijack the thread.

 

[theeedude]

Mostly commuting by bike.
Also running during lunch and mountain biking during the weekend.
I used to do elliptical instead of running when I was really obese.

 

[schizoid77]

Originally posted by: cdmccool

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: cdmccool

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: cdmccool

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: schizoid77

Originally posted by: cdmccool
I'm ecto, I don't do cardio.

Alot of people do cardio to strengthen their heart, not just to lose weight.

The fact that you know enough to know the term ectomorph means you should know enough to do cardio.

Ectos don't need to do cardio in the general sense. If you don't think working out for 45-75 minutes three times a week doesn't strengthen your heart, you would be mistaken. Besides that, you have no idea what my workouts consist of. For example, I end my chest/tris day by doing 2 sets of 50 push-ups.

Weightlifting undoubtedly strengthens your heart, BUT it doesn't significantly increase you cardiovascular ability (unless you're doing resistance HIIT). Two sets of 50 pushups doesn't really count as cardio either since it's such a short-lived experience. If you did 50 pushups, 50 squats, 50 situps, 50 hyperextensions, 50 pullups for time... then you'd have a different story. Ectos do need cardio if they want to be faster, stronger, better, etc. They just don't need it to lose weight as badly as meso's and endo's do.

EDIT: Typo.

I disagree. Maintaining an increased heart rate over a period of time(45+ minutes) through weightlifting 3x a week is enough for an ecto. Doing anymore cardio on top of that will unnecessarily burn calories. This is assuming the ecto doesn't lead a completely sedentary lifestyle outside of the gym.

I promise you that your lifting does not make your cardio in tip-top shape.

That's the thing, it doesn't need to be in tip-top shape. If you're an ecto, and your goal is to put on weight(muscle as well as a healthy amount of fat) you don't need separate cardio sessions.

Like I've said before, if you want a strong healthy heart, you want your cardio in tip-top shape. And while it may not be that big of a deal to you now, as you get older, cardio will take more and more priority over muscle gains. Ecto or not, cardio is for your heart in the long run. If you don't want to unnecessarily burn calories, eat a pizza after your workout.

 

[alpha88]

I play soccer and ultimate frisbee.

 

[TallBill]

For the last 2 months I've been boxing 4 times a week and grappling 3 times a week. Real training, not cardio boxing. Just yesterday I started running again.

 

[schizoid77]

I climb Mt. Everest on a daily basis. That's enough for most people.

Edit: I've made enough legitimate remarks in this thread to warrant at least one nef, eh? Ok, maybe not, sorry.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: schizoid77
I climb Mt. Everest on a daily basis. That's enough for most people.

This isn't Off Topic, don't nef in here.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: cdmccool

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: cdmccool

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: cdmccool

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: schizoid77

Originally posted by: cdmccool
I'm ecto, I don't do cardio.

Alot of people do cardio to strengthen their heart, not just to lose weight.

The fact that you know enough to know the term ectomorph means you should know enough to do cardio.

Ectos don't need to do cardio in the general sense. If you don't think working out for 45-75 minutes three times a week doesn't strengthen your heart, you would be mistaken. Besides that, you have no idea what my workouts consist of. For example, I end my chest/tris day by doing 2 sets of 50 push-ups.

Weightlifting undoubtedly strengthens your heart, BUT it doesn't significantly increase you cardiovascular ability (unless you're doing resistance HIIT). Two sets of 50 pushups doesn't really count as cardio either since it's such a short-lived experience. If you did 50 pushups, 50 squats, 50 situps, 50 hyperextensions, 50 pullups for time... then you'd have a different story. Ectos do need cardio if they want to be faster, stronger, better, etc. They just don't need it to lose weight as badly as meso's and endo's do.

EDIT: Typo.

I disagree. Maintaining an increased heart rate over a period of time(45+ minutes) through weightlifting 3x a week is enough for an ecto. Doing anymore cardio on top of that will unnecessarily burn calories. This is assuming the ecto doesn't lead a completely sedentary lifestyle outside of the gym.

I promise you that your lifting does not make your cardio in tip-top shape.

That's the thing, it doesn't need to be in tip-top shape. If you're an ecto, and your goal is to put on weight(muscle as well as a healthy amount of fat) you don't need separate cardio sessions.

If you're an ecto, want to gain weight, and want to have a healthy heart, you do need separate cardio sessions. A healthy heart is honestly more important than big muscles. If it fails, you die. If your other muscle fails - well, you take a couple of weeks off or something. I would say the only time it's acceptable for an ecto to not do cardio is while bulking. If you're just looking to gain strength, cardio is a MUST... if you want to be healthy and live longer and all that overrated jazz

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: cdmccool
I disagree. Maintaining an increased heart rate over a period of time(45+ minutes) through weightlifting 3x a week is enough for an ecto. Doing anymore cardio on top of that will unnecessarily burn calories. This is assuming the ecto doesn't lead a completely sedentary lifestyle outside of the gym.

The heart rate during your weightlifting should by HIGHER than an aerobic workout. It is basically an unmaintainable heart rate level. Even taking in oxygen, you cannot maintain it, which is what makes it anaerobic. This is also why you need rests in between lifts to replenish your energy which is being directly pulled from ATP.

Once you lower your output such that it is maintainable as an aerobic workout, you are no longer doing what would be considered your max and you have a somewhat inefficient muscle routine.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: cdmccool
I disagree. Maintaining an increased heart rate over a period of time(45+ minutes) through weightlifting 3x a week is enough for an ecto. Doing anymore cardio on top of that will unnecessarily burn calories. This is assuming the ecto doesn't lead a completely sedentary lifestyle outside of the gym.

The heart rate during your weightlifting should by HIGHER than an aerobic workout. It is basically an unmaintainable heart rate level. Even taking in oxygen, you cannot maintain it, which is what makes it anaerobic. This is also why you need rests in between lifts to replenish your energy which is being directly pulled from ATP.

Once you lower your output such that it is maintainable as an aerobic workout, you are no longer doing what would be considered your max and you have a somewhat inefficient muscle routine.

Huh? I actually don't think that's right at all. Where are you getting this info? You do cardio for the benefits of getting your heart rate HIGHER than weightlifting. If the heart rate was so high while lifting, bodybuilders would be in great cardio shape, which they're not. I can understand why you need to take rests, but that has less to do with your heart and more to do with muscle functionality and nervous system coordination.

 

[daveshel]

Elliptical and a lot of hiking. Hiking steep trails can burn an awful lot of calories.

 

[purbeast0]

man i started cardio yesterday for the first time since last August and let me tell you, i could hardly make it 1/2 mile on a track. i wasn't really winded but my legs were just aching. my groin muscles and hamstrings were just aching so much. today i'm going to try to make it 1-2 more laps (10 laps is a mile at my gym) and hopefully not have any pain.

i'm glad though because I have asthma and have been on new medicine since december and haven't used my inhaler since I was put on that medince, and yesterday I was not really tired in the asthma sense at all even after the 1/2 mile.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
man i started cardio yesterday for the first time since last August and let me tell you, i could hardly make it 1/2 mile on a track. i wasn't really winded but my legs were just aching. my groin muscles and hamstrings were just aching so much. today i'm going to try to make it 1-2 more laps (10 laps is a mile at my gym) and hopefully not have any pain.

i'm glad though because I have asthma and have been on new medicine since december and haven't used my inhaler since I was put on that medince, and yesterday I was not really tired in the asthma sense at all even after the 1/2 mile.

That's all you can do. Work your way up a bit It may be frustrating and it won't feel good, but if you want it, you'll get it.

 

[MegaVovaN]

I'll just chime in on "everybody needs to do cardio" train.

I am a skinny kid (was 145 @ 6ft), so I started lifting. Since I haven't got much fat to lose (there IS no fat.. lol), I have to do very little cardio.

But instead I kept doing tons of cardio, just like I was before I got into lifting. I do 3-4 days of cardio a week - and it is a serious cardio, like 90 min bike or 30 min jog or long, vigorous swim. Still gained about 5 pounds of muscle in ~1.5 months

Seriously, I don't see why people consider cardio some kind of grunt work. I <3 my cardio... I'd do it even if there was 0 benefits.

// runner's high junkie rant over

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I'll just chime in on "everybody needs to do cardio" train.

I am a skinny kid (was 145 @ 6ft), so I started lifting. Since I haven't got much fat to lose (there IS no fat.. lol), I have to do very little cardio.

But instead I kept doing tons of cardio, just like I was before I got into lifting. I do 3-4 days of cardio a week - and it is a serious cardio, like 90 min bike or 30 min jog or long, vigorous swim. Still gained about 5 pounds of muscle in ~1.5 months

Seriously, I don't see why people consider cardio some kind of grunt work. I <3 my cardio... I'd do it even if there was 0 benefits.

// runner's high junkie rant over

Haha. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you might've gained a bit more without the cardio. HOWEVER, you are healthier because you took the route you did. I gained about 12-14 pounds in 1.5 months and I wasn't doing cardio, but I'm paying for it now with a crappy heart

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I'll just chime in on "everybody needs to do cardio" train.

I am a skinny kid (was 145 @ 6ft), so I started lifting. Since I haven't got much fat to lose (there IS no fat.. lol), I have to do very little cardio.

But instead I kept doing tons of cardio, just like I was before I got into lifting. I do 3-4 days of cardio a week - and it is a serious cardio, like 90 min bike or 30 min jog or long, vigorous swim. Still gained about 5 pounds of muscle in ~1.5 months

Seriously, I don't see why people consider cardio some kind of grunt work. I <3 my cardio... I'd do it even if there was 0 benefits.

// runner's high junkie rant over

Haha. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you might've gained a bit more without the cardio. HOWEVER, you are healthier because you took the route you did. I gained about 12-14 pounds in 1.5 months and I wasn't doing cardio, but I'm paying for it now with a crappy heart

I promise that's not all muscle.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I'll just chime in on "everybody needs to do cardio" train.

I am a skinny kid (was 145 @ 6ft), so I started lifting. Since I haven't got much fat to lose (there IS no fat.. lol), I have to do very little cardio.

But instead I kept doing tons of cardio, just like I was before I got into lifting. I do 3-4 days of cardio a week - and it is a serious cardio, like 90 min bike or 30 min jog or long, vigorous swim. Still gained about 5 pounds of muscle in ~1.5 months

Seriously, I don't see why people consider cardio some kind of grunt work. I <3 my cardio... I'd do it even if there was 0 benefits.

// runner's high junkie rant over

Haha. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you might've gained a bit more without the cardio. HOWEVER, you are healthier because you took the route you did. I gained about 12-14 pounds in 1.5 months and I wasn't doing cardio, but I'm paying for it now with a crappy heart

I promise that's not all muscle.

Obviously. It was actually a fairly lean bulk though. Overall, I gained 20 pounds, about 13-15 of which was muscle while the rest was fat. I am slowly cutting the fat off and have a nice amount of muscle mass and strength.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: presidentender
I promise that's not all muscle.

Are you referring to SociallyChallenged, me, or both?

I think what I gained was way more muscle than fat...I'm starting to look somewhat ripped. And with all that cardio + walking (I walk every day about 45 min total to/from college) surely burned a lot of calories without leaving much for for fat.

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Haha. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you might've gained a bit more without the cardio. HOWEVER, you are healthier because you took the route you did. I gained about 12-14 pounds in 1.5 months and I wasn't doing cardio, but I'm paying for it now with a crappy heart

Like I stated in first post of my journal, I don't need fast gains at expense of heart.
Slow gain with lean muscle (no need to "cut") and healthy cardio >> fast bulk anyday.

Remember cardio is not only heart, but also breathing. Helps a lot in swimming and sprinting (aka late to school or bus? Just sprint nonstop for 6 minutes, and I'm there).

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

Originally posted by: presidentender
I promise that's not all muscle.

Are you referring to SociallyChallenged, me, or both?

I think what I gained was way more muscle than fat...I'm starting to look somewhat ripped. And with all that cardio + walking (I walk every day about 45 min total to/from college) surely burned a lot of calories without leaving much for for fat.

Fairly sure it's just me. Yeah, imagine what you're gonna look like when you get bigger? I'm sure you'll be impressed with yourself. Plus you won't have the awkward phase after bulking where you're a bit chubby.

 

[sash1]

nothing

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: sash1
nothing

Nothing like contributing to a thread, eh?