Best time to do cardio?

[Basstart]

Im cutting at the moment and was wondering when the best time to do cardio was. I've heard conflicting statements:

1) do cardio first thing in the morning before eating as the body will use fat as energy

2) do cardio in the morning but eat BEFORE doing cardio otherwise the body will use the most readily available fuel source which is muscle glycogen and not fat, therefore you'll be burning muscle and not fat.

Can anyone help me out here? When is the best time to do cardio so I burn fat and not muscle? If mods feel this should be in beginners forum please feel free to move it there....

 

[Jarconis]

how bout cardio in the morning, and before ya do cardio, use a no carb protein powder in water

 

[G.E.R.M]

how bout cardio in the morning, and before ya do cardio, use a no carb protein powder in water

ditto...

or maybe take in some fructose or eat an apple.but i mean only like 15-25g of fructose or apple.

 

[Leviathan]

I'm sure to get tarred and feathered...

... yet I am still a fan of doing it after my weight sessions. It's a great finishing touch on a tough workout, and I feel better knowing that I'm doing the cardio in the first place. 30 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5 on level 2 incline is just right and holds the fat from getting excessive...

 

[big4nuthin]

Empty stomach

I do 45 min. on an empty stomach, got fairly lean. I have always wondered whats best. anyone else?

 

[mike ross]

30-45 min upon waking with 5gr BCAA and 3g of flax seed oil. leaning me out real nice right now

 

[A50#]

Cardio

Is there ever really a good time to do cardio? I truly do hate it!

 

[Tom]

Right after training

I also do cardio right after weight training. I figure since I used up most of my glycogen on weights I'm tapping into my fat stores for the cardio. Then I go home and have high carb high protein meal. Seems to be working nicely for me.

 

[xcelbeyond]

Early morning workouts (weights and/or cardio) work best for me. I've heard lots of positives (and I believe they've been restated here) about doing cardio after weight workout. Glycogen should be mainly depleted then.

If you're not working out, then doing it prior to eating seems to work well.

 

[Basstart]

Thanks for all the responses, it looks like everyone has different opinions.... Are there any trainers on here who can shed some light on this? Does anyone know of any scientific evidence that shows conclusively that one way is better?

Thanks!!!

 

[Sandblaster]

First thing in the morning is probably the best and it has worked the best for me. Your natural test levels are the highest in the a.m. and you are less likely to go catabolic then. As well the fasting state from the previous night will help you get to burning fat much more quickly. I like the BCAA idea a lot.

Doing cardio after training may be counter productive as your cortisol levels will already be higher and you are more likely to burn muscle. It would depend on the intensity of the cardio as well. Cardio after training can be positive if used for recuperative purposes such as removing lactic acid, etc... But in either case, it seems you'd want to go low intensity and keep your time limited.

If there truly is an anabolic window post training, it seems doing cardio during that time may be cutting in to future gains.

Just my 2 cents,
SB