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Morning cardio and food

Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2002/06/07, 07:09 AM Some info to you from a clever guy I know: Nutrition and Early Morning CV – by James Collier BSc (Hons) SRD If you are trying to cut up it’s important to incorporate some cardio-vascular exercise into your regimen. The best time to do this is on another day or at a different time of day to when you train with weights. So many choose to hop on the bike or treadmill first thing in the morning. But what about optimal nutrition around this time? It is rightly said that, in order to maximise fat loss, CV should be done on an empty stomach. On the other hand, we are bodybuilders, so we want to maintain/build muscle at the same time as losing fat. Remember that insulin levels are naturally highest first thing in the morning and this hormone helps put protein into muscles - an ideal opportunity to get some protein in. Also, exercise is catabolic and as you burn fat for fuel you also utilise protein. Hence cardio exercise on an empty stomach means that you may be burning muscle as well as fat and are missing out on an anabolic opportunity. My recommendation is to have 20-25g of rapidly absorbed protein (eg whey in water) prior to morning CV exercise. When you’ve finished your morning CV exercise there is another opportunity to have protein and you’ll need some complex carbs to give you the energy. Have a healthy breakfast like high fibre cereal and skimmed milk with fruit. You may also want to supplement this with more protein from food or powder sources. I hope this helps you early morning exercisers! ---------------------------- - Nina :o) La vie est toujours aussi belle.....
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2002/06/07, 10:36 AM Great tip, Nina! For those of you reading this, make sure the protein type is readily absorbable. The lower the biological value, the longer it will take for your body to assimilate the protein. -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
ischjli Posts: 408 Joined: 2002/03/13	2002/06/07, 12:11 PM Wow, I could of used that info just a few minutes ago when a co-worker asked me about morning cardio. I was close, but I wasn't aware how susceptible one would be to burning muscle when hitting CV on an empty stomach. Thanks! -------------- Ischjli "Seven days without exercise makes one weak."
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2002/06/07, 12:32 PM Don't worry Ischjli. The catabolic effect of this is really not that significant IMO. While the article suggests that the body could use muscle for fuel, I believe that this will only happen if there are not enough stored fat or carbohydrates in the bloodstream to begin with. Therefore, unless you currently have a very low percentage of bodyfat, I wouldn't worry about that too much... -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
ischjli Posts: 408 Joined: 2002/03/13	2002/06/07, 02:07 PM Great, thanks for the clarification.
Boddhisattvha Posts: 1,226 Joined: 2002/03/07	2002/06/07, 03:07 PM Yeah, this does seem to be geared toward people that have hit their goals of being skinny! This is great to know now though, before I get there! -------------- Practice does NOT make perfect. Perfect practice does.
box1988 Posts: 17 Joined: 2004/02/09	2004/03/17, 08:40 PM Ok so here's my question: I am trying to lose weight but tone my muscles. I workout every weekdy morning and do cardio and weights each day. Should I have a low calorie protien shake (I'm drinking myoplex lite right now) BEFORE or after my morning workouts in order to reach my goals? It's very confusing.
agamble Posts: 1,029 Joined: 2003/09/22	2004/03/17, 09:29 PM Check out the post entitled 'TO ALL WHO WANT TO LOSE FAT' on the 'Diet and Nutrition' board. Down at the bottom of the page is a pretty good discussion of this topic by asimmer and bb1fit. It will clear it up for you.
burrocfh Posts: 200 Joined: 2004/01/09	2004/03/18, 09:59 AM How about taking aminoacids just before cardio in the morning? Say, a tablespoon of Aminofuel? Or will a Whey Protein Shake be more useful?