How Do Bodybuilders Do HIIT Cardio?

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

Hey///
I am just curious about something. A few people I know swear by HIIT to drop some weight. I agree HIIT may sound better for an athlete trying to develop better conditioning but how do bodybuilders do it?

For one, it seems like a horrible idea to do it after a weight workout and if done on off days, wouldn’t that simply hinder recovery?

I for one have never tried it and don’t actually do any ‘‘real’’ cardio except for walk as much as i can throughout the day. I don’t know of any big pro bodybuilders that actually use HIIT but it seems like it’s still one of those constant debates - HIIT vs Steady State.

I just don’t see how a bodybuilder can actually include it in their routines without drastically cutting back on their strength training.

2

I’ve used HIIT in the past and seen good results. It’s best to do it on off days, or in a second session later in the day after weightlifing.

3

[quote]Bingbeast wrote:
Hey///
I am just curious about something. A few people I know swear by HIIT to drop some weight. I agree HIIT may sound better for an athlete trying to develop better conditioning but how do bodybuilders do it?

For one, it seems like a horrible idea to do it after a weight workout and if done on off days, wouldn’t that simply hinder recovery?

I for one have never tried it and don’t actually do any ‘‘real’’ cardio except for walk as much as i can throughout the day. I don’t know of any big pro bodybuilders that actually use HIIT but it seems like it’s still one of those constant debates - HIIT vs Steady State.

I just don’t see how a bodybuilder can actually include it in their routines without drastically cutting back on their strength training.[/quote]

I personally do it on off days…either with the treadmill set at a steep incline 30 seconds on, 60 seconds off, or if I have the time I’ll go to a field and do full out sprints. The intervals on the treadmill have never seemed to harm my recovery/my workout the next day…sprints outside on the other hand have in the past. Take that as you will.

4

cool, thanks for the advice.

5

I used Interval work during my contest prep. On non-weight training days, I started with only 15 mins, and eventually right at the end was doing 30 mins, maybe twice a week. Everything I’ve read points to it being more LBM sparing, and I was certainly pleased with my overall conditioning on contest day, so it’s staying in my next prep as well.

S