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Does Cardio burn Fat or Muscle?

Dukeben Posts: 25 Joined: 2003/08/11	2003/09/04, 03:36 PM Can someone explain what exactly happens to your body when you do cardio (run or sprint) and burn calories. Is the fat being burned or are hard earned muscles being diminished? I am wondering because I am trying to gain muscle mass and we are starting basketball conditioning and I don't want to lose size. In fact I still want to gain size while doing all the basketball running. Thanks for your help
richardjst Posts: 410 Joined: 2002/07/13	2003/09/04, 05:10 PM Cardio...is extended time of movement which burns fat...while increasing cortisol levels keeping muscle development down...if you want to increase your size as well as quickness, don't sprint more than 40 yards and allow yourself full recouperation between sprints you are try to work the anarobic(spelling?)not aerobic...the first is without oxygen the latter is with...when working without you are using fast twitch muscle fibers, which are the ones that grow when lifting heavy weights. -------------- If hard work and persistence were the keys to success, most people would opt to pick the lock.~Dick
INTRUDER Posts: 642 Joined: 2002/06/27	2003/09/04, 05:31 PM PLAIN & SIMPLE: Depending on the level of intensity, cardio is a good way to burn calories. You probly wont burn any fat unless you keep at it for an hour or more. The key here for fat loss is to creat the calorie deficit. As long as you dont stop training and eat the right foods you wont lose muscle. -------------- "Get everthing you want--just make a little change now"
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2003/09/04, 07:35 PM Cardio will use whatever fuel it wants. If glycogen is available, it will use that. That is why it is preferential to have a bit of a carb/protein meal beforehand. When glycogen is depleted, it will use muscle or fat. You do not have much control over what type of tissue it uses. BCAA's may help to sway toward fatty acids, but even this is not conculsive. What you are concerned about with cardio is creating a caloric deficit, and raising baseline metabolism. This is what burns fat! This is where HIIT really shines. Keep your standard cardio sessions to 30 min or so, and HIIT 12-18minutes. -------------- Great people never want it easier, they just want to be better! Ron
Dukeben Posts: 25 Joined: 2003/08/11	2003/09/05, 03:00 PM The point of the post was that I didn't really want to burn fat or muscle. This is because I still want to increase muscle mass and don't you need fat to gain muscle?
rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2003/09/05, 05:08 PM You could probably still gain mass by continuing to work out and eating more frequently. Yes, you may lose some muscle while playing a season of basketball...when was the last time you saw a truly huge/buff basketball player? My advice would be to just keep your protein intake high, and get plenty of rest and food. Good luck! -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
Dukeben Posts: 25 Joined: 2003/08/11	2003/09/05, 07:55 PM I haven't seen a truely buff basketball player, but right now I am still at the skinny as hell basketball player stage and I was just starting to put on a lil mass and want to continue during the long season.
Dukeben Posts: 25 Joined: 2003/08/11	2003/09/05, 07:56 PM Well, Ben Wallace, Charles Oakley, Karl Malone, and Zo are all pretty buff. But thats besides the point. Plus I play shooting guard