The Cardio-Muscle Dilemma: Strategies for Optimal Results
You may have heard that doing cardio can take away from your muscle size, but it’s just not that simple. If you want to build muscle and do cardio simultaneously, this article is for you.
Runners typically have a leaner physique than a bodybuilder or someone who primarily does strength training. This is because running long distances is suitable for lighter bodies, while strength training is the exact opposite. But don’t get me wrong, an individual can do both cardio and weight lifting at the same time without losing any muscle mass with these critical steps.
To sustain muscle mass while doing cardio-based training I wouldn’t run more than a few times a week, at least in the beginning to allow your body to get accustomed to it.
When you run, do it on separate days from your strength training or after your strength training session. This allows you to give as much energy to your strength training session while allowing you to do cardio.
You also need to make sure you're getting sufficient nutrition from food. .8 grams of protein is a good starting point for the amount of protein needed to maintain your gains.
Be conscious of the type of cardio you are doing. Higher-intensity cardio, such as sprinting deals a greater amount of damage to the CNS than walking does. If you have other goals besides improving your cardio, walking might be your best choice.
Conclusion
The advantages of doing both cardio and strength workouts are that it allows you to burn more calories and improves your aerobic capacity. But make sure you're aware of your priorities. If your goal is in strength training, make sure you pick the right type of cardio so that you can achieve your goal.
