T Nation

Quick Cardio Question

Bodybuilding
#1

I hope this is the best forum for this question: It’s become common knowledge that it’s best for weight loss/fat burning, to do cardio first thing in the morning, because of blood glucose and glycogen; but what’s the time window?

Sometimes I get up, have a cup of coffee, get dressed for the gym, and my business phone rings a couple times. it’s really easy to burn up 60-90 minutes (dammit!)… now I still haven’t eaten, but how long is too long to wait? If I get interrupted, when should I give up on the idea of cardio on an empty stomach, and actually eat something?

#2

You’d probably be interested in reading the following articles

The Cardio Roundtable - Featuring Charles Staley, Christian Thibaudeau, Dr. Lonnie Lowery and Don Alessi
Part 1 - http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=461325
Part 2 - http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=461524

#3

The effectiveness of AM fasted cardio for fat loss is hardly common knowledge. Most of the authors here will tell you that it is somewhere between ineffective and detrimental. In any case, if you choose to do it and it works for you, don’t sweat the little details. If you take time for a cup of coffee it won’t make enough difference to matter.

Keep in mind though, without a breakfast you may burn more fat, but your muscle will go with it. You don’t have glucose in your blood, but you also don’t have any amino acids left. Muscle catabolism is almost a certainty under these conditions.

#4

To add a tiny question to the current post since L-Glutamine has been mentioned.

When is the best time to take it?

I go to the gym after I come home from work(6pm) and this tends to be about 5 hours after I had a decent lunch. (Although I have a yogurt at around 4pm)

Should I take L-Glutamine before the work out to help prevent muscle degregation?
(I lift for about 45 mins and then run 3 miles)

Thank you.