Question about cardiac running & relation to muscle

Dan4Muscle · Apr 19, 2006

Hello,
I just took a new course for Spring 2006 in Physique. One portion of the class us for cardiac exercises, such as running. Today, we ran 1 mile (4 laps) and I did so in 9:16 minutes, with mostly running and small amounts of walking. I was just wondering if this burns muscle as well. I am sure it does shrink fat cells, but does it do anything to muscle fibers? Thank you.

-Daniel

xcelbeyond · Apr 19, 2006

The proof is on the pudding. Look at any runner that's good at running the mile (or any distant runner). They don't have a lot of muscle - that bogs them down. The body will not retain muscle if you expect to do well at distance runnning.

Probably the best running for fat loss and muscle retention is HIIT (high intensity interval training).

bigguy01 · Apr 19, 2006

xcelbeyond said:
Probably the best running for fat loss and muscle retention is HIIT (high intensity interval training).

i have to agree here...i have been using HIT in the mornings upon waking up & it has been working very well...this is the 1st time i have used this type of training...b4 i was walking on an incline for 40-60min...HIT is not as time consuming, sux but i would rather do a 20-30min HIT session than a 40-60min session...

glenihan · Apr 19, 2006

personally i find cardio on an empty stomach first thing in the morning keeping my HR around 65% (about 130 for me) is the best way to burn fat without burning muscle

OuchThatHurts · Apr 19, 2006

xcel mentioned interval training. Interval training has also been shown to significantly increase natural GH production. also remember the type of running involved (look at a sprinter's legs vs. a marathon runner's legs) - an olympic sprinter in the 100 or 200 meter has legs that would rival some bodybuilders.

...I still do 'em.

ps. glenihan, your avatar is lookin THICK bro!