Any benefit to more cardio?

Pub07

I'm 5 ft 10 and I'm trying to get my weight up to lean 12st. I started at 10.75 and I'm about 11.25 now. I'm wondering would there be any benefit to me doing more cardio or would it work against me and keep my weight from going up.

I swim and/or cycle for about 40 minutes almost every day and I could easily add in another 30-40 mins either earlier or later during the same day, and I would enjoy doing it. I do weights every 2-3 days. So would an extra session of cardio per day be beneficial, make no difference one way or another, or be detrimental to my goal?
Cheers.

flaka

How would more cardio increase your weight? Take the bus and sit on the couch more.

Long duration cardio decreases body weight (fat and muscle) - have you ever seen a fat long distance runner or cyclist?

Increase Lean Mass -> you mean you want more muscle mass - why?
Do you want to be bigger or stronger?
You need to chose one over the other and develop a programme for that goal.

The only way to increase muscle mass is to use your muscles more - which in turn trains your cardio system - so you can replace a lot of your cardio with lifting session without much loss.

justsomebloke

why do you want to do an extra cardio session just as a matter of interest?

The reason I ask is because if you want to do another one do just eat the extra calories you need to offset the cardio

If you are doing it in relation to getting big, I'd skip it and do another weights sessions and eat more

Pub07

Well I enjoy the cardio more, always feel in great for form after it. Then there's the fact that my lower back can be at me from time to time and I'm wary of overdoing the weights and damaging it. I thought maybe the cardio could help to build muscle as I noticed my legs getting a bit bigger from cycling and I thought swimming might do the same for the upper body. Ah well, looks like I'm gonna have to up the weights a bit instead.

aye

Pub07 wrote: »

Well I enjoy the cardio more, always feel in great for form after it. Then there's the fact that my lower back can be at me from time to time and I'm wary of overdoing the weights and damaging it. I thought maybe the cardio could help to build muscle as I noticed my legs getting a bit bigger from cycling and I thought swimming might do the same for the upper body. Ah well, looks like I'm gonna have to up the weights a bit instead.

build muscle, do heavy compound weight movements.
bench press, military press, lat pulldown, barbell row, squats, deadlift, etc.

if you are having lower back pain, could be tight hamstrings or hip flexors, or it could be bad form on the weights.

ask a trainer to have a look at your form.

Thinkfirst

Pub07 wrote: »

I'm 5 ft 10 and I'm trying to get my weight up to lean 12st. I started at 10.75 and I'm about 11.25 now. I'm wondering would there be any benefit to me doing more cardio or would it work against me and keep my weight from going up.

I swim and/or cycle for about 40 minutes almost every day and I could easily add in another 30-40 mins either earlier or later during the same day, and I would enjoy doing it. I do weights every 2-3 days. So would an extra session of cardio per day be beneficial, make no difference one way or another, or be detrimental to my goal?
Cheers.

Do series in the pool: 50 or 100m fast and then rest. You can gain muscle that way. Swimming might be even good for your back but you better check that with an expert.
On the bike use lower gears where you have to push harder.
Some cyclists have a huge thighs, they probably do weights too but it's mainly coz cycling.

Colm_OReilly

Long duration cardio decreases body weight (fat and muscle) - have you ever seen a fat long distance runner or cyclist?

Ever seen a muscly/decent looking endurance athlete?

OP,

The cardio you are doing will be counter productive to mass gain and overall health really.

As for your back pain, it's best not to ignore this, as aye has pointed out.

Learn to squat and deadlift - these have the advantage of working your back in a safe manner and will release all those happy chemicals that will build mass. All you need to do is eat.

For cardio keep it short and intense - this has the advantage of all that long distance stuff without the detrimental effects of long long work at low paces.

Colm
-that photo still freaks me out

tunney

For cardio keep it short and intense - this has the advantage of all that long distance stuff without the detrimental effects of long long work at low paces.

Emmm there is a whole load of people who completely and utter disagree with this. Short and intense does not cut it for endurance training.

Colm_OReilly

hey tunney,

Forgot about our discussion on the tri forum. I'll pop over later today.

Col

tunney

I'm not trying to get back into an argument or a discussion, just pointing out that the apporach to cardio on the fitness board is very lopsided and that many people would disagree.

Colm_OReilly

You're not trying to get into a discussion? :rolleyes:

Joking aside, and I am in a jovial mood today - I doubt anyone would recommend increase LSD cardio for anyone looking to gain weight.

tunney

No I don't think anyone would. Extensive cardio and muscle gain in the muscles not used during the cardio doesn't mix.

thirtyfoot

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

You're not trying to get into a discussion? :rolleyes:

Joking aside, and I am in a jovial mood today - I doubt anyone would recommend increase LSD cardio for anyone looking to gain weight.

You are right but only from an aesthetic/appearance point of view, from a performance perspective Tunney is right, short and intense won't get you the same benefits as mileage if you want to be competitive at endurance but in the context of the OP it is for appearance.

justsomebloke

Tingle wrote: »

but in the context of the OP it is for appearance.

I think that this is the only point that really matters, we are here to answer's the OP's question and in relation to that I think Colm answered correctly. I don't see why Tunney put in his comments when they have nothing to do with the thread. The OP never asked about endurance training as he clearly stated his goals as weight gain