Too Much Cardio Weight Gain!!!

[roberg57]

Hi, I'm new to the forum, and I wanted to ask a another question related to cardio weight gain.

I've been a serious work out junkie for the past 8years with a schedule as follows, 5-6 days of a minimun of 60 minute Cardio, & 3days of weight training. When life became hectic I dropped down to at least 4 days of a minimun of 45-60min Cardio. I noticed that I was gaining inches so last year February I pushed my schedule back up to the 6 day/60min Cardio schedule, even adding an additional 60 min to at least 3 days out the week so I was actually doing about 2 hours of cardio 3 days of the week and 60-75min for the next 3 days of the week taking one day off during the week. I switch up my routine at least every 8 weeks and eat clean but during the past 4 weeks I've noticed that my body is aching and I've gained inches again.

I'm wondering if I need to take a break from cardio like maybe a week to trick my body into burning again but I'm so use to doing cardio everyday for the past 8 years that the thought of not doing it frightens me....any ideas????? Does too much cardio actually backfire after awhile???

 

[donnamarie]

I defer to Cathe as always on these type questions but I have some input. Aerobic training is good for cardio/vascular purposes. However, I continue to read that weight training is what we want to concentrate on for fat loss and muscle gain.

If I am wrong, please jump in... I am always open. That is why I check in regularly......

 

[alsrnbsn]

I am totally NOT an expert.....and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night;-) (LOL), but it almost sounds like your body is trying to tell you that you're overtraining. I have been in the same problem and started a rotation last week that included only 2 days of cardio, each session less than 60 min. I have found that I actually have more energy and lost about 4 lbs this last week!

HTH

 

[delfin]

Not Cathe here, and not an expert, but my gut tells me that's a whole lot of cardio there! Do you know how many calories you're burning, and how many you're taking in? I don't know if I subscribe to the "starvation mode" theory (where your body goes into starvation mode and "hangs onto" those calories when it feels like you're too close to not having enough), but maybe it applies here. Just my two cents.

 

[janiejoey]

Roberg57,

Not Cathe, but hope I can help anyway.

It depends on your body type. There are 3 types of bodies, most all of us are a combination of the three. I'm mostly a Endomorph. This body type responds greatly to cardio, and best done 5 to 6 times a week. Can even benefit more, with 7 days.

Mesomorph, doesn't matter what they eat or how they train, they lose body fat and gain muscle anyway.

Ectomorph tend to be ripped light weight and middle weights. They tend to stay very lean.

Also I think, after 8 weeks of demanding rotations, a recovery week might be in order. During that week do nothing, or light weights or, yoga, stretches, walking....then go back to another 8 weeks of rotations, only this time different exercises for muscle groups to achieve the same goals.

Good Luck,

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible.

http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey

 

[roberg57]

Hi Janie,

Thanks so much for the advice and thanks to everyone else who offered suggestions. I definitely know I'm an endomorph and gain weight at the drop of a hat which is why I do so much cardio. However, I think I'm going to totally take a complete rest from everything for the upcoming week, maintain some healthy clean eating and just see what happens and how I feel at weeks end.....

Thanks again ;-)