Cardio during leg day

vladlen3000 · Nov 27, 2006

Hi everybody

I have a dilemma. I am used to doing cardio almost every day during contest preparation Usually it's 40 mins on elliptical . I have weak legs. I was wondering if I should skip cardio on leg days. I used to do it early in the morning, 5 hours before starting my leg work out. I am wondering is cardio takes away some of mine energy that could be used for the actual workout (or make my legs tired)
Also is it smart to have a high carb day when doing legs. Again for the same reason - to have more energy.
Thank you all in advance.

Dad · Nov 28, 2006

I doubt if skipping cardio on leg day is going to impact your fat loss much, and it sounds like it would definately help your leg workout.

If you're doing higher rep sets as part of your leg routine - 20+ reps - you'll be getting some aerobic activity that way. Additionally, more muscle mass in your legs (as well as anywhere else in your body) is going to raise your metabolic rate.

BOOMSHAKER · Nov 28, 2006

I don't see if your doing a hard ass leg workout how you would even have the legs for cardio.(or vice versa) I know I wouldn't. If you are training to stay in shape, then doing a cardio on the same day as legs is no biggie. I think you have weak legs on cardio day because you are hitting the legs hard on cardio first that day. That would almost surely give you nothing left when it was time to train legs with the weights. If you are doing cardio first and on the same day as legs, yes you are taking away from your leg potential strengths. Do your leg work out first, (small warm up on the treadmill 4 or 5 mins to move the blood) then while your legs are nice and strong BOOM, hit the legs hard. Save the cardio for when your doing upper body stuff.

As for eating more carbs on a leg day? I do not pick up the carb count just for one day, unless you were competing say in powerlifting or something. But your regular good food and calorie, carb, protein, fat percentages should be enough. Again, depending if your trying to bulk up or just stay in shape. That would require more carbs, or the same carbs.

I'm sure other guys may have something different.

p.s. get a belt! hahahahaha j/k bro

vladlen3000 · Nov 28, 2006

Thanks for your help
BOOMSHAKER - I am a fitness model and some friends of mine encourage me to compete as a novice in an amateur competition that will take place in march. I have enough time to bring my legs and I put all my energy into it (15 sets of 10-15 reps and I never avoid heavy squats). It's just I can't afford to bulk and raise my BF, because of fitness photoshoots. So i eat moderate carb high protein and low fat basically all the time.
Then I thought that carbing up every 5 days (hence on the leg day) will give me a slight edge in putting mass on the quads. I heard a many times that you can not put on muscle and stay lean at the same time.
And I have to do 40 mins of light cardio almost every day to burn those calories.
Does anyone think my plan makes sense?
If it's any help I am 5'11" 180 lbs probably around 8% BF( I never measured it, but thats what people tell me).
Thanks for all advices your again. Much appreciated