Offseason Cardio...productive or counterproductive??

[Lenny]

I once read that Chris Aceto believes that offseason cardio is like taking a shower in the pouring rain, it just does not make sense for bodybuilders (something along those lines). I have always done a several days of cardio each week for 20-30 minutes post workout in the offseason. I know for the average person cardio has it benefits for the respiratory system and heart conditioning, but for someone, such as, a bodybuilder, does it make much sense?

Is it a waste of time and calories...should all your focus be on the training session and getting out of there to recover/rebuild??

I just always felt like cardio increased my appetite during the offseason and I just had the healthier feeling, but again I have never been able to pack it on the right way either!

Just tossing this out there for thoughts...do you feel that cardio in the offseason is like taking a shower in the rain or do you think it can actually be a benefit...again I guess it depends if you are bodybuilding or just wanting to look healthy.

 

[sadie]

i think it really depends on what you want.. some people dont care if they put on body fat off season as long as they are shredded at the show.. some people are lucky and its hard to put on body fat.. others of us however do not want to put on fat but can easily so we do 30min low intensity cardio 6 days a week lol im fairly lean and still making great gains. its gonna depend on ur body

 

[Phidias]

Eat less... you won't have to do any cardio.

 

[7_Deadly_Sins]

Your heart is a muscle too...and about the most important one. Why wouldnt you want to do it?
It helps recovery, makes you eat more..keeps you lean...and about a million other things.

 

[AWN2004]

I think its a great thing to do in the off-season for a variety of reasons.

It helps me with my appetite and on the flip side of that, I don't turn into a fat slob either.

Keeping your cardiovascular system in tune isn't a half bad idea either. In my opinion it won't make cardio less effective come contest time either as I would be changing many variables that are going to control my metablism. 20 to 30 mins at about 3.0 - 3.5 mph on about a 3 to 4 percent incline does just the trick. I should also note I do mine in the morning on an empty stomach.

 

[sadie]

I think its a great thing to do in the off-season for a variety of reasons.

It helps me with my appetite and on the flip side of that, I don't turn into a fat slob either.

Keeping your cardiovascular system in tune isn't a half bad idea either. In my opinion it won't make cardio less effective come contest time either as I would be changing many variables that are going to control my metablism. 20 to 30 mins at about 3.0 - 3.5 mph on about a 3 to 4 percent incline does just the trick. I should also note I do mine in the morning on an empty stomach.

i do the same except i do NOT like that it makes me hungry all day lol

 

[jm425]

i think it really depends on what you want.. some people dont care if they put on body fat off season as long as they are shredded at the show.. some people are lucky and its hard to put on body fat.. others of us however do not want to put on fat but can easily so we do 30min low intensity cardio 6 days a week lol im fairly lean and still making great gains. its gonna depend on ur body

Doing cardio 6x a week is counterproductive while bulking even it's low intensity IMO. I used to do cardio 3x a week while bulking but found that I couldn't make good gains doing so. Now I don't do any cardio while bulking.

 

[sadie]

Doing cardio 6x a week is counterproductive while bulking even it's low intensity IMO. I used to do cardio 3x a week while bulking but found that I couldn't make good gains doing so. Now I don't do any cardio while bulking.

Ill inform Alex of that since hes the one that told me to do it.. gained 15lbs but got leaner so far in 12 weeks btw.. cant be that counterproductive..

 

[Showy0023]

How long is your off season?

 

[sadie]

Eat less... you won't have to do any cardio.

im eating 1400ish cals a day where do you suggest i remove cals lol i believe the idea is to get me basically stage ready so i dont have to starve out and be weak working up to the show

 

[gyno]

Doing cardio 6x a week is counterproductive while bulking even it's low intensity IMO. I used to do cardio 3x a week while bulking but found that I couldn't make good gains doing so. Now I don't do any cardio while bulking.

well, IMO, if you are having trouble gaining doing LOWintensity cardio, you may want to re-evaluate the rest of your program (diet, training, etc)

 

[thebrick]

For me…

…its worth it because my BP and cholesterol profile are so much better when I do some (lo-intensity) cardio consistently. Plus, I just feel better. But then, I am an older lifter

 

[Phidias]

im eating 1400ish cals a day where do you suggest i remove cals lol i believe the idea is to get me basically stage ready so i dont have to starve out and be weak working up to the show

I was talking to Lenny who's currently off-season and probably eating way more than 1400 kcals daily...

 

[Lenny]

I was talking to Lenny who's currently off-season and probably eating way more than 1400 kcals daily...

Got that right JC...damn food. Eat less means less cardio. I pretty damn good about eating during the week, but still plenty of calories, all good ones, but they still are calories. I just did cardio in the offseason to stimulate appetite.

And hell no I am not eating 1400 calories, mutiply that by 2.5 and plus a super high calorie day on the weekend

 

[optgrowth]

I would do a little bit of cardio, maybe 3 xs a week 20-30 mins. after all cardio helps with putting oxygen in the muscle fibers helping produce more ATP. hell it doest have to be running lenny.. bow chick wow wow

 

[Lenny]

Your heart is a muscle too...and about the most important one. Why wouldnt you want to do it?
It helps recovery, makes you eat more..keeps you lean...and about a million other things.

Yes. I totally understand the heart is the biggest muscle, and I know the importance of cardio-respiratory health. It has a ton of benefits and is a poweful tool, however speaking from a bodybuilding perspective and adding muscle mass in the offseason...can it be counterproductive?? I think being lean is all about proper bodybuilding training and eating. Cardio is a way to burn off calories (that is why I understand what Phidias was saying) and of course the whole heart health benefits.

I totally agree that it can stimulate appetite and I usually have always done cardio in the offseason...shit I am doing it right now. I just was posing the question...is it needed in the offseason if you keep other aspects of bodybuilding in check. I plan on reducing it a bit on frequency per week, so I can spend less time in the gym on the bike and more time at home recovering...maybe I am just burnt out of cardio. I love training, but you know how us bodybuilders get with cardio

 

[Lenny]

I would do a little bit of cardio, maybe 3 xs a week 20-30 mins. after all cardio helps with putting oxygen in the muscle fibers helping produce more ATP. hell it doest have to be running lenny.. bow chick wow wow

LOL...I like that cardio

 

[gyno]

Lenny, in short, I believe that the most disciplined of bodybuilders (diet and training wise) problably don't HAVE to do it...funny thing is, they problably would anyways because they are so disciplined
Now, the common board member (not just here, anywhere really) that abuses their body with complete and utter disregard, they problably need it. No, not problably, they do. Being 300lbs but not being able to tie your shoe without running out of breath is not cool.

Yes. I totally understand the heart is the biggest muscle, and I know the importance of cardio-respiratory health. It has a ton of benefits and is a poweful tool, however speaking from a bodybuilding perspective and adding muscle mass in the offseason...can it be counterproductive?? I think being lean is all about proper bodybuilding training and eating. Cardio is a way to burn off calories (that is why I understand what Phidias was saying) and of course the whole heart health benefits.

I totally agree that it can stimulate appetite and I usually have always done cardio in the offseason...shit I am doing it right now. I just was posing the question...is it needed in the offseason if you keep other aspects of bodybuilding in check. I plan on reducing it a bit on frequency per week, so I can spend less time in the gym on the bike and more time at home recovering...maybe I am just burnt out of cardio. I love training, but you know how us bodybuilders get with cardio

 

[juiceddunk]

no way am i doing cardio off season. Your body will get used to it and won't respond as well pre contest. I don't feel you can make as good as gains if you do cardio. You want to burn as FEW calories as possible during the offseason. That's why people taking longer rests during sets, and thats why people don't do cardio in the offseason. Sure you can make an argument that doing cardio will stimulate your appetite and keep your heart healthy, but if ur not starving after all those months of dieting, then something is seriously wrong with you

 

[Flexican]

Depending on the intensity/frequency of your training it can also be construed as cardio.
Very individual, hence the mixed responses..