I had a conversation with a friend recently who told me how he has been working out like a machine the past few months in an attempt to “get big”.  When I asked what he’s been doing, he told me he’s hitting the weights on a split routine (sounds good so far) 5 days a week.  On top of that, he added he’s been spending 45-60 minutes 4 days a week running, on the ellipitcal machine, or swimming.  His thinking is, the weights will help him build muscle, and the cardio will him him strip away fat.  Anyone else think like this?
While it may make sense at first glance, there are some things you must realize about a routine like this.  Doing that much cardio is going to make it extremely difficult to pack on any muscle.  The cardio will no doubt help strip away body fat, but won’t help him reach his goals.  Your body will be burning far more calories than you may realize on a routine like this.  When you have a caloric deficiency in your body, you are going to experience fast weight loss.  For some individuals this is the goal, but clearly this is not everyones goal.

So, how much cardio is too much?  As I’m sure you can see, that really depends on the individual and what their personal goals are.  If you are trying to shed body fat and lose weight, performing high-intensity cardio 4-5 times a week for 45-60 minute intervals is great.  Combine some moderate weight lifting and you will most likely have discovered a very successful formula.  However, if your goal is to add muscle mass, try limiting your cardio to 15-20 minute intervals, twice a week. 

The above is a basic guideline.  With fitness, nothing is an exact science.  If it were, there wouldn’t be thousands of diets and workout plans on the market.  Everyone has a different body and genetic makeup.  What works well for one may not work well for another.  Try experimenting and see what suits you and your goals best.  However, just make sure you realize that doing excessive amounts of cardio is going to make it very difficult to add muscle to your frame.  Feel free to comment on this article and let us know what workout:cardio balance works best for you!

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Matt

Co-Founder at Share It Fitness

Matt has been involved in the fitness industry for over 10 years and has worked with, and helped countless individuals improve their lives. After college, Matt started his fitness career working in the trenches as a personal trainer for a big corporate gym. It was here he saw how impersonal Big Fitness really was. Clients weren't people, they were just sales waiting to be made. After branching out and starting his own personal training business in San Diego, Matt soon developed the idea of Share It Fitness and started our (now highly successful) blog. A fitness junkie himself, Matt knows the importance of incorporating exercise into your life. When he isn't working at Share It Fitness, you can find Matt running, biking, taking yoga, or pumping iron around San Diego.

Latest posts by Matt (see all)

• The 4 Minute Workout – Is Tabata Training the Ultimate Fat Burner? - June 19, 2013
• The SUPER Superset Workout: Build Lean, Tight, and Defined Muscles - June 18, 2013
• Health Food Stores Aren’t Always so Healthy - June 13, 2013