Should I do cardio while bulking?

Author: Emmie Kilback  |  Last update: Friday, April 4, 2025

Cardiovascular conditioning will benefit your body whether you're bulking or not. When you complete your bulk and go back to more regular styles of training, or cutting, you'll find cardio extremely testing if you've not kept at it during the bulk. Health is just as important as gains, so get your cardio done.

Should you do cardio when bulking?

I recommend doing 2-3, 20-30 minute sessions of cardio each week while bulking (ideally on a non-weight training day) to maintain cardiovascular health and keep you fit. Cardiovascular training improves the heart's ability to pump blood and increases oxygen uptake into cells.

Should I do cardio if I'm trying to gain muscle?

Yes, cardio is important if you want to gain muscle and lose fat. Cardio helps you burn calories and increases your overall endurance, both of which are essential for building muscle and losing fat.

Is it okay to run while bulking?

Yes, you can do cardio while bulking. Incorporating cardio can help maintain cardiovascular health, improve recovery, and enhance overall fitness without significantly hindering muscle gain. Recommendations for Cardio While Bulking: Frequency: Aim for 2-4 times a week.

How do you lose fat while bulking?

To lose body fat while bulking, focus on maintaining a slight calorie deficit, prioritizing protein intake, and incorporating both strength training and cardio. Check out my Quora Profile for more fitness advice!

Cardio While Bulking: How Much and What Type?

Is belly fat normal when bulking?

In a clean bulk, it's quite normal to gain some fat since you're consuming more calories to support muscle growth. However, if you notice you are accumulating mainly the areas of excess fat in the stomach, some changes can help you optimize better gains while minimizing excess fat.

Does cardio burn fat?

Cardio is a great way to burn calories, but it isn't the only way to get rid of fat. If you're looking for a quick fix, cardio will help you lose weight by burning more calories than your body consumes. However, this method alone won't necessarily lead to long-lasting results.

Should I do cardio when cutting?

Cutting is a crucial phase in a bodybuilder's journey, where the focus shifts from muscle building to shedding excess body fat to reveal those hard-earned gains. Cardiovascular exercise, or cardio, plays a significant role in this process.

How long should a bulk last?

A good rule of thumb for lifters is at least 8 - 12 weeks for bulking and then you can go into your cut phase if you're happy with the results. How long does it take to cut after bulking? The cutting phase varies per person, often cuts are around 8 - 16 weeks, dependent on your goals and achievements.

Should a skinny guy do cardio?

While cardio is god for your heart, it can also burn more calories to lose weight. If you're already skinny, you'll have to avoid long cardio sessions, which can result in more weight loss. Rather than long jogs, try to perform brief 30-minute sessions which are of moderate to intense.

Do bodybuilders avoid cardio?

Bodybuilders do cardio ranging from supersetting their exercises within their workout to 30-minute power walks post workout. Overall, bodybuilders stay away from cardio that is high-intensity, which would take away from their weight training efforts.

How to do a lean bulk?

10 Hacks for a Lean Bulk Transformation
  1. Eat at a caloric surplus but avoid excess fat. ...
  2. Consume protein with every meal. ...
  3. Perform light cardio during every session. ...
  4. Add nuts and nut butters to your diet. ...
  5. Perform compound lifts over isolations. ...
  6. Use carb timings to maximize workouts. ...
  7. Get plenty of rest. ...
  8. Understand your limitations.

Is too much cardio bad for muscle gain?

In fact, newer studies have shown quite the opposite could be true: cardio doesn't inhibit muscle gain and may even help it. “In recent years, the body of research evidence indicates that doing concurrent training does not interfere with hypertrophy following resistance training,” Rosenkranz says.

What is dirty bulking?

There are other terms for this, such as build mode, but bulking is a common term for this caloric surplus. Dirty bulking is when an individual is in a caloric surplus to build muscle (build mode). However, the individual is eating foods that are carb dense, unhealthy, and ultra-processed out of convenience.

Does cardio increase testosterone?

By exercising, you'll likely maintain a healthy weight and improve your cardiovascular functioning, which has positive effects on your testosterone. However, working out alone won't cause a long-term increase in testosterone levels, Dr. El-Zawahry says.

How long will a 20 pound bulk take?

We normally recommend gaining 20 pounds over 3–5 months.

How to bulk up for skinny guys?

Consume 0.8-1g per pound (1.6-2.2g per kg) of body weight in protein every day. Consume the rest of your calories from foods composed of carbs and fats. Eat vegetables to keep up your fiber and micronutrient content for your general health. If you are not gaining weight, add more carbs and/or fats to your meal.

Should I cut or bulk first?

👉 Here's the answer: Cut first: If your body fat percentage is above 20-25%. Bulk first: If you look lean but lack muscle size. But remember, bulking doesn't mean eating junk food, and cutting doesn't mean starving yourself!

How much cardio when bulking?

It is important to understand the role of cardio during a Clean Bulk, which is that it should be used as a tool to maintain cardiovascular fitness, not to burn calories. ~60-75 minutes a week at a moderate intensity during this period of your training cycle is probably sufficient to maintain cardiovascular fitness.

Can I get ripped without cardio?

That's right – you can cut without doing traditional cardio. There's no denying that sprints or HIIT can really help you melt body fat as it ups your metabolic rate to burn more calories, but for those determined few who want to avoid cardio entirely you can still get a ripped physique.

Is 20 minutes of cardio enough?

Is a 20-Minute Workout Enough? Guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) also back up these research findings. The AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, which equals around 21 minutes per day.

Will 30 minutes of cardio a day burn fat?

As little as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per week may aid weight loss, reduce fat. A new analysis of 116 randomized clinical trials reaffirms existing recommendations for achieving the optimal health benefits from exercise.

How do I know if I am losing fat and gaining muscle?

Top signs of gaining muscle (and losing fat)
  1. You feel stronger.
  2. You look leaner.
  3. Your measurements have changed.
  4. Your workouts are getting easier.
  5. You have more energy.
  6. Your metabolism has increased.
  7. Your recovery time has decreased.

How to burn 3500 calories a day?

  1. Running. “Running is one of the best calorie burners out there,” Saltos says. ...
  2. Swimming. Swimming is a low-impact workout that also targets multiple muscle groups. ...
  3. Cycling. ...
  4. High-Intensity interval training (HIIT) ...
  5. Jumping rope. ...
  6. Strength training. ...
  7. Boxing. ...
  8. Rowing.

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