I keep hearing conflicting things from people. Is it beneficial to do my cardio immediately after lifting, or at a completely different session? I've been told to not do cardio within 8 hours of lifting, because it takes the blood away from the growing muscles. Is this true? I would prefer to do cardio right away after lifting, but I have been avoiding it, as well as my training partner refuses to do it because of the forementioned idea.

Also, is it ok to do more than one cardio session a day for maximum fat loss? I am cutting, so is this ok? I try to do 2 x 20 minute sessions a day.

Thanks for the help...

The reason is simple...

Energy levels. Glycogen stores. And recovery times.

If you do weights.. can you say you have enough energy to give 100% to cardio right after? Your body's energy supplies are down. If you do cardio, can you honestly say you gave 100% to lifting when you depleted energy before?

No way.

If you just wanted to be generally fit.. no problem.

But if you want to maximize muscle gains. The do your cardio sessions 8 hours apart or on non-lifting day.

And yes.. you can do more then one cardio session in a day for max fat loss. In that book, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, that is one of the many suggestions for upping the intensity. Just don't do 2x a day for months. It's like a 30 day spice it up kinda thing.

I say if your short on time and your cutting, then it's no big deal....however,

if bulking, like mda said, your may be hurting your chances for optimum muscle gains....

As usual, MDA has it nailed.

Laser

ya he does

Cardio burns something like 10% more calories after a workout than before one. In either case, you risk those calories coming from muscle rather than fat or carbohydrates.