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ab program...with cardio?

oscarg Posts: 198 Joined: 2004/04/05	2004/04/28, 07:55 PM i'm on the 8wk wide shoulders and abs program. I'm on my 3rd week. Everything is going smoothly but I have a question about my ab program. Should I be doing cardio? The whole point of doing the ab program is to show those abs but since I'm trying to get stronger i've been eating alot and not really watching what I eat. So I know diet will help only I don't know if I can keep a diet and if I was too do it I wouldn't what to eat, how much, and how often to be eating. I last checked by body fat around late november 03 ad it was in the 12% b/c I had been doing 1hr intense cardio a week (indoor bike). I'm sure it's gone up since then cuz now I only to warm up which is hardly cardio. Then I stopped b/c the trainer said that 1. i would need the energy and 2. I just didn't need cadio in my routine. Any suggestions? Should I add 1HR cardio or try my best to start a diet fit for me? I don't wanna lose strength, I wanna gain it but I've heard cardio can do that. Thanks,
oscarg Posts: 198 Joined: 2004/04/05	2004/04/28, 07:57 PM btw, the pic is around the time i had my BF checked...as u can see u can see some of my abs but if u look at me now...u can only barely see the upper abs.
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2004/04/28, 08:23 PM You really need to pick an option, A or B. A being getting bigger and stronger, B getting leaner and great abs. You will find it next to impossible to add mass and keep great abs. So, you need to decide what is your priority, and set up your diet to meet those needs. Abs require a caloric deficit, mass requires a caloric surplus. Adding cardio can help to keep fat gain to a minimum while bulking, but will also slow your gains. If you choose this route, do not do cardio first ever. It will drain needed glycogen for your weights, from which you will benefit in the long run much more. -------------- If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.... bb1fit@freetrainers.com
goldengloves Posts: 690 Joined: 2003/09/19	2004/04/28, 08:47 PM I like to do my ab workouts with my cardio (ab workouts being 1st then cardio) only about 10-15 minutes so I dont burn off to much.
goldengloves Posts: 690 Joined: 2003/09/19	2004/04/28, 08:47 PM I like to do my ab workouts with my cardio (ab workouts being 1st then cardio) only about 10-15 minutes so I dont burn off to much.
oscarg Posts: 198 Joined: 2004/04/05	2004/04/29, 02:04 PM Thanks. That answered my question. Now I can't figure out which is more important to me. On one hand I feel that I need to put on some mass and get stronger cuz of my small apperance, on the other hand I feel like getting lean and having a tight body is the whole purpose for workingout in the end, at least for ppl my age. I'm gonna start doing 10min run's/stairs twice a wk. I doubt that will have a big effect. Once i finish the 8 wk program on here. I will start to work in getting more lean then probably go back to getting stronger. Hope this works. Thanks
goldengloves Posts: 690 Joined: 2003/09/19	2004/04/29, 03:49 PM From your photo and to my personal opinion I would go with adding mass...You are not fat and you dont seem to have high % of b/f.......Im in the same rut as you I see all these guys that are really lean but they are not very big and I am like thats what I would like to look like....Then I see a guy who has 20" arms and a huge chest w/ a little bit of a gut and im like you know that isnt to bad either lol......Id like to go half and half and just be ripped but that isnt happening...Im a short stalky guy!