Hello-

I have been trying to do fasted cardio, so as to encourage fat loss. Since I am a zombie in the mornings, I have been trying to do this right after work, then waiting ~1 hour to eat dinner. But, during about 1/4 of the workouts , I get really dizzy and hungry and feel like I am about to pass out, and then stop after about 20 minutes and eat right away. My question is this: should I just power through the dizziness, or should I stop?

Looking at my sizeable belly, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to starve to death. But, it may be a kinetics issue, i.e. the body can only burn fat so fast, so I suppose I could theoretically starve.

FYI, my routine is elliptical for 30 minutes maintaining 150-160 bpm HR, with 2minute "rest" from t=16min to 18min (still moving, just slowly, HR~130).

How is the rest of your day outlined? How do you simulate fasted cardio in the afternoon? By definition fasted cardio is cardio done on an empty stomach, and I hope you aren't starving yourself all day until after work.

Shouldn't you keep the heart rate at about 140bpm for the best fatloss?

Shouldn't you keep the heart rate at about 140bpm for the best fatloss?

That depends on Max heart rate. It´s different for every individual and depends on age and other things.

140bpm is fine if you are 20-25 and your max heart rate is 200bpm+. For most people that are 40+ 140bpm would be to high for best fatloss...And 150-160bpm is medium intensity or high intensity training for most normal people...

How is the rest of your day outlined? How do you simulate fasted cardio in the afternoon? By definition fasted cardio is cardio done on an empty stomach, and I hope you aren't starving yourself all day until after work.

My calorie intake is ~2000 per day, with ~1300 during the day, then 700 at night (dinner, snack, shake). Usually, the 1300 cal are consumed by 2:30-3, which means that I don't have any food for ~3 hours before my cardio. Regardless of the actual numbers, I'm usually extremely hungery by the time I get on the elliptical. So, I guess this pseudo- fasted, but not truly fasted cardio.

I'd say to push through it, have some coffee or a fat burner before the cardio to help you get into the fat loss zone quicker and mimick fasted cardio to an even greater degree. Drink plenty of water, get some music in the headphones, and just do it. The alternative would be to do it in the a.m. upon rising for best results IMHO.

~SC~

I'd say to push through it, have some coffee or a fat burner before the cardio to help you get into the fat loss zone quicker and mimick fasted cardio to an even greater degree. Drink plenty of water, get some music in the headphones, and just do it. The alternative would be to do it in the a.m. upon rising for best results IMHO.

~SC~

Hi Swolecat - If i'm unable to do cardio in the morning and have no choice but to do it in the evening after work, how long should I wait after a meal before I consider my body to be in a fasted state? Thanks.

I am much like you; I absolutely hate mornings. I have been a night owl my whole life, so I was not looking forward to fasted cardio in the morning.

Since starting it (after reading how recommended it is), surprisingly, I have actually enjoyed cardio in the morning. My stomach felt a bit sick for the first day or two, but it went away and I feel great after now.

Give it a try for a week or so. If you still don't like it after a week, then go back to evenings. But I do think you will be surprised after a few days.

Good luck!

Prodigy

Hi Swolecat - If i'm unable to do cardio in the morning and have no choice but to do it in the evening after work, how long should I wait after a meal before I consider my body to be in a fasted state? Thanks.

I can't speak on behalf of SC, but I would wait 2-3 hours after a protein/fat only meal before completing a session of LISS. That meal would also preferably be liquid (for example: protein shake with flax oil).

Definitely agree w/the above, good advice!

~SC~

Sweet! Thanks.

have some coffee or a fat burner before the cardio to help you get into the fat loss zone quicker and mimick fasted cardio to an even greater degree. ~SC~

Hi SC,

What fat burner do you recommend before cardio sessions? Can it be taken when one is in a fasted state?

You'll find that not being able to do cardio in the mornings is more of a mental obstacle than a physical one. On my last cut, I would force myself to get up, drink some water, and plop down on my ecliptical for 30 minutes. I came to find that after a few days, I felt better in general during the rest of the day because of doing AM fasted cardio. I had more energy, a more positive attitude, and more determination to complete the mundane tasks that I had ahead of me that day.

You'll never know until you try. The hardest part isn't actually doing the morning exercise, its getting yourself to buckle down and do it. ;)

Good luck!

Also, try not eating for 2 hours prior to cardio instead of 3.

Hi SC,

What fat burner do you recommend before cardio sessions? Can it be taken when one is in a fasted state?

I currently use "Scorch" made by "MAN". It's decent, but basically most ephedrine-free fat burners are the same these days. I also use energy drinks a lot of the time instead with names such as Low-Carb Monsters, Kronic, Sugar-Free Full Throttle Fury, etc. Those are a nice change from pills, and seem to hit you quicker. I always take either of the above fasted, yes indeed.

~SC~

Are you still recommending ECA, SC?

I recommend a "fat burner" or "energy stack" to increase the metabolism (body temp) and to help w/appetite supression and energy while dieting, but using ephedrine is not needed for success.

~SC~