The Truth About Morning Cardio

I currently write for about 4 magazines on a regular basis, and I'm now on the Training Advisory Board for Oxygen magazine.

Fitness magazines have changed a lot since I first picked up my first issues of Muscle & Fiction or MuscleMag (the Arnold collector's edition!) way back in 1992 or '93.

Slowly, they are getting better info in the magazines, although some still sacrifice quality of info just to put in "new" moves (even though these exercises suck in comparison to the basics).
Here's one of the questions I was recently asked for Oxygen...

"I've been told to do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach for more fat loss. but one trainer told me I'll lose muscle mass this way. What should I do?"

Answer:Take a deep breath, and don't worry about it.

The bottom line: Fat loss is all about the BIG picture. What happens over the course of a 24 hour period determines your results, not what happens in a 30 minute exercise session.

Just as bodybuilders know that muscle doesn't grow during a workout, we also need to understand that most fat isn't lost during training, but rather as a result of what goes on for the entire 24 hour period.

If someone wants to get lean, they will achieve most of their results from SUCCESSFUL DIETING, not because they do their cardio in the morning.

And as long as they apply some type of resistance training stimulus to their muscles and eat enough protein over the course of the day, they won't lose muscle - even if they do empty stomach cardio.

****So I finished with this note to the editor at Oxygen...

I know its not great copy when an expert says, "it doesn't matter either way", but most of the time, thats the truth!

Anyways, those are the types of boring answers you'll get from me regarding controversial issues like morning cardio on an empty stomach.

Let common sense be your guide,

CB

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