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new cardio workout - amidoinitrite? Anonymous
Hey all,

I started a cardio only workout 10 days ago. I intend on starting Stronglifts 5x5 sometime in the near future, but want to wait until my cardio is stronger.

I am 37 male, 6' 1", 142ish lbs. I eat pretty good. I cut out fast foods and soda about 6 weeks ago, and decreased portion size. I try to drink a a gallon of water a day.

10 days ago I started doing 30 minutes elliptical cardio each am, and have worked my way up (sort of) comfortably to 60 minutes of elliptical cardio. I intend on upping the difficulty a level when it's too easy. My heart rate monitor reads between 135 and 145 during the workout

Since I am investing an hour a day, I want to make sure that I am doing decently with that hour. I especially want to not lose significant muscle mass.

Thanks for your advice
>> Anonymous
the reason they always pair cardio with strength training is to offset the muscle loss.

you don't have to be at peak physical shape to start strength training. but you do have to have good blood pressure.

make sure your systolic is always below 130, that you don't have highblood pressure before you start weights because theres always a threat of stroke or heart attack when you lift, and thats when you're healthy and normal.

I have HBP but I take meds for it and I always make sure that my BP is below 130.

even if you start light, like with a good set with all compound lifts with just a pair of dumbbells, it will go a long way to offsetting any muscle loss you get from cardio.

you won't get big, but the point is you won't lose lean muscle mass, you'll gain whatever you lose and that will help with the weight loss and keeping your metabolism up.
>> Anonymous
Eating calories prevents not losing mass. You can weight train and increase your cardiovascular health at the same time without losing in either if you just eat food. Elliptical machines are rather low intensity and IMO you would benefit by using a treadmill (it's more practical because it carries over to running rather well) and increasing your intensity. If you are focusing on cardio ONLY and are devoted to that effort then you can go ahead and start running and vary the intensities of the runs. Do long runs, shorter faster runs, etc. go check out runnersworld.com and to be honest you probably don't have much muscle to lose and like I said, eat and you won't have to worry about it.
>> Anonymous
>>375822

Don't overthink weight training. Most people won't have any problem with blood pressure if they breath properly when they lift. Obviously you have a different condition and OP may as well but this is just a side note for the rest of shits.
>> Anonymous
>>375833

OP here.

I eat when I want to eat and definitely do not starve. If you are alluding to starvation mode, I don't think it possible. I don't count calories, but it's dramatically less than what I took in before. With the new cardio activity, I think there is a decent change.

Regarding the low intensity nature of Elliptical, doesn't the fact that working it hard and taking my heart rate to 140/150 consistently for 60 minutes make it a higher intensity workout? I personally find the elliptical easier on my knees and hips.

so, to rephrase, what makes a cardio workout low/medium/high intensity? I previously thought it was heartrate maintained.