I train weights 5 days a week, islolating muscle groups. Will running on my days off slow muscle growth?

Question

I train weights five times a week, doing different muscle groups every day. Ive been told that if i go running on my days off that this will effectivly cancel out a lot of the growth that the training has given me, or at least slow it down considerably.
Is this true?

I train weights five times a week, doing different muscle groups every day. Ive been told that if i go running on my days off that this will effectivly cancel out a lot of the growth that the training has given me, or at least slow it down considerably.
Is this true?

Just to clarrify, i only run on my days off, i.e the two days a week i dont train. And i run 3 miles on those days

Answer 1

Cardio will reduce muscle gains, yes, and extended cardio sessions will become catabolic (muscle wasting) as glycogen stores are used up. It really depends on what your goals are, however. If you're trying to actually gain muscle mass, most serious bodybuilders cut out most cardio during gaining phases. If you try to gain and cut at the same time, you get the worst results for each, which is why there are phases in the first place.

If you feel you must do cardio, keep the sessions relatively short and low intensity if you're intention is to build muscle. When you have reached the size you want in lean muscle, you can then enter the cutting phase which usually entails reducing carb intake while increasing cardio. High intensity short cardio sessions are best for this as it raises the resting metabolic rate, increases GH production by the body, does not use lean muscle for energy (sessions are short enough to use glycogen stores up before using muscle tissue).

Just remember that diet ultimately determines body composition and the ability to gain muscle.

Answer 2

I'm a lifter and trying to lose a little extra weight right now too. Unfortuineatly it's true, to some extent. When you run your body consumes lots of extra fuel, which no matter how much I don't like it can sometimes come from consuming muscle. However, if you're diet is good your body will consume calories first and as long as you have enough you won't notice the difference.

the consumption I'm talking about isn't noticable, I put in over 20 miles at a speed of over 7.0mph avg. per week and I am still gaining muscle. Even now as you are sitting at your computer your body is burning some muscle mass to power your eyes, hands, etc...

any kind of cardio (elevated heartrate) consumes extra energy and some of that is muscle mass. Just make sure you have plenty of fuel in your body before and after your run and you will be fine, the ammounts I'm talking about aren't noticable.

My only answer to this without burning any muscle is swimming (I'm a huge fan of swimming and I think it's great for the body) The reason being that swimming is like running with weights all over your body, so you are building muscle and tearing it down with the cardio at the same time, although you are building much faster than consuming so you will still gain.

but for real, I wouldn't sweat it. As long as you have plenty of fuel for your body to use it won't draw more than necessary off your muscles and you won't be able to notice it. it's an ammout to where if you ran a mile and did 1 curl you would double the mass you lost during the mile, probably not even that.

Answer 3

No this is not true. I've trained and worked with many athletes, and they do this kind of thing for "cross training." It's really good to do different things with your body, rather than the same ole same ole all the time. Be sure to stretch after your runs, and after your workouts, as you're giving your bod alot of workout.

Answer 4

It does for me. I shrink up when I do any cardio. Try starting with two weekly 30 minute cardio sessions, then tailor it to your results. Determine what your goals are and research how to start as far as exercise and diet. The most important thing is to tailor what you are doing to your specific goals/metabolism.

Answer 5

Egg white is practically 100% pure protein. Sounds like a good regime to me.