subject: Early Morning Fasted Cardio Routines-Do They Really Burn More Fat? [print this page] Early Morning Fasted Cardio Routines-Do They Really Burn More Fat?
If you are reading this you are probably trying to decide whether or not you should be doing early morning fasted cardio to burn more fat.
This fad started several years ago when a few scientists found out some proof that doing fasted morning cardio burns more fat, because fatty acids after fasting are more readily available for energy.
So the habit that stuck for many years after that, is waking up, drinking a cup of water and heading outside for 40min to 1hr of steady state running.
But, here is where things get really sticky
In the last decade there have been several studies showing that this form of cardio, is only good for one thing
Waisting away muscle because it starves them of essential nutrients. Most refer to this as being in a catabolic state.
Now, most of the time I like to try to avoid being to sciency, but here we are goin to find out if morning fasted cardio is effective for what you are looking to do.
Scientists have found that this type of cardio used more free fatty acids as fuel as compared to cardio, done at later times in the day.
But, on the flip side, its been proven that's its not because you wake up in a fasted state after sleeping.
It happens when you are in your deep sleep. And these fatty acids become your primary source of energy while your body recoups while its resting.
That is why you burn around 200 to 350 calories while you sleep. In seeing that scientists believed that the fatty acids are more open to being used as fuel when you go do your cardio in a fasted state.
So, of course it made it the ideal time to burn fat.
But before you decide, lets look into the negative side of it
Knowing that you are in a fasted state and that fatty acids are more available means that there is a big chance that lots of muscle can be wasted.
And lots of that muscle wasting has to do with a chemical your body creates called cortisol. Cortisol is a big muscle and metabolism killer.
So its very possible that hard earned muscle mass can waste away. And muscle is the #1 factor to how high of a metabolism you have.
Kinda contrary to the "burn more fat" goal.
So if your goal is to lose belly fat and muscle is not a concern of yours early morning fasted cardio would be a good option.
But on the other hand, if you like to keep your muscle and long term you know that having a lot of muscle is the answer your physique then don't do it.
All in all I recommend that you try it, if you are curious. Then go ahead and rate the results your results yourself.
