Cardio - Whyle Bulking Myth Destroyed!!!

GameDayDog · 09-08-2005, 01:48 PM

Well, I just provided a lot of reasons in in thys thread - http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2615 ... I believe that the times you do cardio during a bulk cycle is a lot more important than just doing cardio for the sake of doing it... especially if you want a nyce, clean bulk...

But sometymes, that may not be enough... What if I posted responses from Mr. 6 Tyme Olympia - Dorian Yates and Mr. 7 (possible 8) tyme Olympia - Ronnie Coleman??

*****

Ask Dorian
By Dorian Yates - 6 time Mr. Olympia

Flex Magazine - June 2004 - Pages 338 - 340

Cardio Choices

Question: I'm anxious to add an aerobic program to my bodybuilding regimen. What type and volume do you suggest?

Answer: I advocate that bodybuilders at all levels initiate an aerobics program, because it has so many benefits. First, it enhances general cardiovascular fitness, and being healthy in heart and lung efficiency is a boon for a competing bodybuilder. Second, this better level of general fitness increases metabolism. This makes your system much more efficient (than would be the case if you were sedentary) at assimilating the heavy protein intake necessary for bodybuilders. Third (and the reason I did cardio year round when I was competing), it increases endurance so that when I launched into my contest prep period where I started to train faster, I was ready for the pace from a fitness standpoint. The fourth main benefit is that doing cardio all year means you are able to take in a few more calories on a daily basis than would be the case if all you did was lift.

My favorite form of cardio is power walking. I have tried stationary bikes and treadmills, but the concept of cycling or walking furiously and going nowhere bored the crap out of me. So power walking became my thing during the offseason, and I resorted to a bike or treadmill only during the offseason when the weather (I live in England, remember) sabotaged outside activities.

In the offseason, I completed 30 minute power walking sessions four times a week, first thing in the morning soon after I awoke and before breakfast. I just drank some water and then off I'd go. After having not eaten for 10 hours or so, I was in a low-carb state and therefore, my body would more readily turn to fat for fuel. The pace was brisk, so I was breathing hard quickly. I took long strides and swung my arms to encourage general cardio stimulation. FLEX's Peter McGough once watched me powerwalking back to my house and he said that with my brisk pace, long strides and swinging arms, plus the fact that I weighed 275, I looked lyke Frankenstein on speed. Moments like that make it all worthwhile!

Switching to the contest prep period, I increased my aerobic activity to a high of two 30 minute sessions a day, six days a week. I completed a power walking session first thing in the morning and then did a stationary bike session in the evening.

During the contest prep period, when my aerobic workload was much higher and my body more depleted, it was often tough to contemplate two 30 minute sessions a day, six days a week. But I drove myself on with a do-or-die attitude that meant the work had to be completed. I had to instill in myself the belief that I was training harder, dieting smarter and was more disciplined in meeting my aerobic quota than anyone else.

For general health maintenance and to gain the bodybuilding advantages of being cardiovascularly fit, I recommend doing at least three, and preferably four, 30 minute cardio sessions a week. Try to complete them early in the morning, be consistent and by walking away from the gym, you will become a better bodybuilder...

******
Now I'm not personally a morning person, but if you read the article in the link, you'll also find that you're depleted after a weight lyfting workout as well.. thus I always recommend - Workout - Cardio - Protein Shake. Anywayz.. I promised ya Ronnie Coleman.. so here's Ronnie..
******

Muscle & Fitness, August 2004 - page 171

184 Pound Gain Plan by Lara McGlashan, MFA, CPT

Question: Should you do cardio only precontest or is it important to do cardio off-season to control bodyfat levels?

Answer: "I do 45 minutes of moderately intense cardio activity four days a week, even when I'm not training for a contest, alternating between the stair stepper, treadmill & bike. A lot of people think cardio makes you shrink, but cardio can actually help you gain muscle. Think about it: The more cardio you do, the more you'll want to eat, and the more nutrients your body will have at its disposal for growth. Cardio will only make you shrink if you don't eat enough food or if you eat foods with poor nutritional value. Doing cardio certainly burns calories, but if you're eating enough of the right foods, the losses will be nearly all bodyfat, leaving you leaner and meaner all year round."

******

Well, there ya have it folks... I'm also living proof of this... as I've been doing 20 minute HIIT cardio sessions on an elliptical after my back & chest day workouts to bulk cleanly and increase the use of bodyfat for energy...

I will mention that I've also read that cardio, post workout, should not be done after a leg day workout... as that will hinder your gains... Of course, I'll try thyngs that are supposed to make me grow... but I won't try thyngs that are supposed to hinder my gains...

********

Thys article is a copy of a question & answer session in IronMan Magazine... January 2005, page 48 - 50 ...

Steve Holman's - Critical Mass

Q: - When should I do cardio, before or after my weight workout?

A: - A 10 - 15 minute treadmill session before you train legs can do wonders for warming up your lower body for optimum performance. Many bodybuilders don't warm up enough, which can reduce their ability to contract the target muscle. Studies show that a warm muscle can contract up to 20 percent better than a cold one, so warm up thoroughly.

Of course, you don't have to do cardio on leg day to warm up. Many top-level bodybuilders do a few sets of leg extensions before they move to their heavy compound quad exercises. For example, Ronnie Coleman does four sets of extensions for up to 20 reps apiece before heading to the squat rack. Walking a treadmill or riding a stationary bike is just another warmup option.

Doing cardio after your weight training workout has a fat burning benefit: Because your weight workout has used up a lot of glycogen, especially any circulating in your bloodstream, your body moves into a fat burning mode sooner than it would if you did cardio on a non-workout day or prior to your workout. Some researchers believe, however, that doing cardio immediately after a leg workout can be detrimental to growth and that you should wait at least 20 minutes.

So the answer is, if you want to use some cardio for a leg warmup, do it before your leg workout for 10 to 15 minutes, and use only moderate intensity. If you're looking for a better fat burn, do it immediately after your upper body workout or 20 to 30 minutes after your leg workout. Better yet, on leg day do it later in the day or not at all.

*******

There you have it.. I hope that the information I provide help you all become lean, mean bulking machines... Of course, my personal goal is to be bigger than all the humans!!! ... So let's all aim for 400 pounds with 8% bodyfat...

Peace..~G

**EME** · 09-08-2005, 02:02 PM

Hey Game, great post!

It really still all comes down to calories in vs. calories out.

The thing about doing cardio when bulking that is beneficial is the fact that it allows you to eat more calories, and get more good carbs and protein than you would be able to take in otherwise, and still keep your caloric surplus where you want it.

The advantage to being able to take in more protein and more carbs is that you ensure that your body is able to pull all the aminos it needs for growth and all the carbs necessary for rebuilding glycogen stores.

The important thing to remember if you are going to do substantial cardio when bulking is that your caloric needs are going to ge higher. So, you have to make sure you are taking in enough calories to maintain your caloric surplus where you want it.

Doing cardio when bulking has long been a technique used by competitive bodybuilders to be able to help keep their bodyfat in check while adding mass.

It's easy to up the amount of cardio slightly if you are gaining too much fat, or drop it back if you aren't gaining fast enough.

This technique can easily be incorporated into anyone's routine who is looking to add quality mass without too much fat.

The key is detemining your calorie and macro needs, and keeping close track to be sure you calories in vs. calories out provides the amount of surplus you are looking for.

- EME

**NNTB** · 09-08-2005, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GameDayDog

So let's all aim for 400 pounds with 8% bodyfat...

:bb: sounds good to me :nosthumbs

GameDayDog · 09-08-2005, 09:58 PM

Yeah.. I had to provide thys because I've been seeing a lot of folks scared to do any cardio whyle bulking... I was once that way... but for the last 2 or 3 months I've changed my ways... Although I wasn't as dedicated to doing it as I have been recently...

I agree about the calories.. I would hope that everyone running a bulk cycle has their calories and nutritional intake set up correctly.. Whether it's 40/40/20 or 50/25/25 ... or 30/50/20 ... (I never recommend going below 20% in fats, as I've been informed that it reduces the body's testosterone production ability. Thus increasing dietary fat can help those with low test levels) ...

One of the main points I always try to stress for those that want to do cardio whyle bulking is to do cardio when they're glycogen depleted.. If they do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach, or after a weight lyfting session, they body is more apt to burn fat cells for fuel... and allows the protein & carbs you consume to go toward building muscle...

When you add cardio to your bulking routine, it may seem lyke it's hindering your gains.. but I propose you will making gains... Especially if you're esting ryght... It will just seem slower compared to someone adding muscle & bodyfat (pure weight) .. vs .. the person adding mostly lean muscle while keeping fat gains to a minimum (lean muscle mass) ...

Personally, I recommend cardio after a workout... it's just convenient cause you're already in the gym... I'll save the morning sessions for when I'm prepping for a contest or if my weight losses stall during my cutting cycle ... as I said, I practice what I preach... so we'll see how it goes...

Peace..~G

**powerman2000** · 09-09-2005, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EME

It really still all comes down to calories in vs. calories out.

Hey there is something we agree on

Aftershock · 09-09-2005, 02:27 AM

I've believed all this for years...

Ok, maybe I used to be a no cardio while bulking person up intill a month or two ago :o but alot happens in a couple of months, you know. Now I don't even "bulk"

mistermuscles · 10-03-2005, 06:06 PM

Quick question for you guys.

I am going to do cardio after weight-lifting, so do I drink my PWO shake before or after my cardio session?

Thanks!

chlaxman · 10-03-2005, 06:39 PM

I agree that doing cardio on a bulk is a great idea, although I have found that anaerobic cardio (sprints) is great for keeping fat off and aiding in lean mass gains. If you've never tried sprints 3x a week, you should look into it, especially while bulking.

**DarkFalcon** · 10-03-2005, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermuscles

Quick question for you guys.

I am going to do cardio after weight-lifting, so do I drink my PWO shake before or after my cardio session?

Thanks!

Definately after, the theory is that after working out your body has used up a lot of glycogen circulating in your bloodstream which put's your body into a fat burning mode. Taking a shake would negate that benifit and also most likely make you puke as you stomach mostly shut's down during heavy exercise so the shake would just sit there and curdle. : pukey:

**schroeder** · 10-24-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EME

It really still all comes down to calories in vs. calories out.

the key to gains....it's as simple as that. :nosthumbs

**builtbeast** · 10-24-2005, 02:48 AM

I always am doing cardio whether I'm bulking or not.

Personally, I believe it is important to do cardio especially for those that tend to put on bodyfat. Since I am a meso-endo I tend to put on fat fairly easily and this helps to keep it under control while still making lbm gains.

W8isGR8 · 10-25-2005, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EME

It really still all comes down to calories in vs. calories out.

- EME

So, If I ate 3000 calories a day from fat or 3,000 from protein it wouldn't matter? After 3 months I'd look the same right?

It's not as simple as in vs. out.

**powerman2000** · 10-25-2005, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W8isGR8

So, If I ate 3000 calories a day from fat or 3,000 from protein it wouldn't matter? After 3 months I'd look the same right?

It's not as simple as in vs. out.

He was just trying to make a point. You're taking it too literally.

W8isGR8 · 10-25-2005, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerman2000

He was just trying to make a point. You're taking it too literally.

That's what stupid people do, take shit literally. Some jackass hears on some radio/tv/internet forum that the key to losing weight is calories in vs. calories out. So he/she starts a diet consisting of half an apple and a tic-tac for breakfast, a microwave burrito for lunch, and a frozen pizza for dinner(because it all adds up to less calories than some formula told them they burn), then they do a hundred sit-ups before bed and wonder why they still look the same six months later.

You can burn fat and gain muscle, cardio and weights go hand in hand. I'm agreeing with the threadstarter on this. But a calorie isn't a calorie.

TheRock · 10-25-2005, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W8isGR8

That's what stupid people do, take shit literally. Some jackass hears on some radio/tv/internet forum that the key to losing weight is calories in vs. calories out. So he/she starts a diet consisting of half an apple and a tic-tac for breakfast, a microwave burrito for lunch, and a frozen pizza for dinner(because it all adds up to less calories than some formula told them they burn), then they do a hundred sit-ups before bed and wonder why they still look the same six months later.

You can burn fat and gain muscle, cardio and weights go hand in hand. I'm agreeing with the threadstarter on this. But a calorie isn't a calorie.

You're from bodybuilding.com aren't you? :bigthumbu

W8isGR8 · 10-26-2005, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRock

You're from bodybuilding.com aren't you? :bigthumbu

yes

**johnsbod** · 10-26-2005, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W8isGR8

yes

I thought you were from Hawaii?

09-08-2005, 01:48 PM	#1
GameDayDog The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks! Posts: 1,914 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32	Cardio - Whyle Bulking Myth Destroyed!!! Well, I just provided a lot of reasons in in thys thread - http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2615 ... I believe that the times you do cardio during a bulk cycle is a lot more important than just doing cardio for the sake of doing it... especially if you want a nyce, clean bulk... But sometymes, that may not be enough... What if I posted responses from Mr. 6 Tyme Olympia - Dorian Yates and Mr. 7 (possible 8) tyme Olympia - Ronnie Coleman?? *** Ask Dorian By Dorian Yates - 6 time Mr. Olympia Flex Magazine - June 2004 - Pages 338 - 340 Cardio Choices Question: I'm anxious to add an aerobic program to my bodybuilding regimen. What type and volume do you suggest? Answer: I advocate that bodybuilders at all levels initiate an aerobics program, because it has so many benefits. First, it enhances general cardiovascular fitness, and being healthy in heart and lung efficiency is a boon for a competing bodybuilder. Second, this better level of general fitness increases metabolism. This makes your system much more efficient (than would be the case if you were sedentary) at assimilating the heavy protein intake necessary for bodybuilders. Third (and the reason I did cardio year round when I was competing), it increases endurance so that when I launched into my contest prep period where I started to train faster, I was ready for the pace from a fitness standpoint. The fourth main benefit is that doing cardio all year means you are able to take in a few more calories on a daily basis than would be the case if all you did was lift. My favorite form of cardio is power walking. I have tried stationary bikes and treadmills, but the concept of cycling or walking furiously and going nowhere bored the crap out of me. So power walking became my thing during the offseason, and I resorted to a bike or treadmill only during the offseason when the weather (I live in England, remember) sabotaged outside activities. In the offseason, I completed 30 minute power walking sessions four times a week, first thing in the morning soon after I awoke and before breakfast. I just drank some water and then off I'd go. After having not eaten for 10 hours or so, I was in a low-carb state and therefore, my body would more readily turn to fat for fuel. The pace was brisk, so I was breathing hard quickly. I took long strides and swung my arms to encourage general cardio stimulation. FLEX's Peter McGough once watched me powerwalking back to my house and he said that with my brisk pace, long strides and swinging arms, plus the fact that I weighed 275, I looked lyke Frankenstein on speed. Moments like that make it all worthwhile! Switching to the contest prep period, I increased my aerobic activity to a high of two 30 minute sessions a day, six days a week. I completed a power walking session first thing in the morning and then did a stationary bike session in the evening. During the contest prep period, when my aerobic workload was much higher and my body more depleted, it was often tough to contemplate two 30 minute sessions a day, six days a week. But I drove myself on with a do-or-die attitude that meant the work had to be completed. I had to instill in myself the belief that I was training harder, dieting smarter and was more disciplined in meeting my aerobic quota than anyone else. For general health maintenance and to gain the bodybuilding advantages of being cardiovascularly fit, I recommend doing at least three, and preferably four, 30 minute cardio sessions a week. Try to complete them early in the morning, be consistent and by walking away from the gym, you will become a better bodybuilder... ** Now I'm not personally a morning person, but if you read the article in the link, you'll also find that you're depleted after a weight lyfting workout as well.. thus I always recommend - Workout - Cardio - Protein Shake. Anywayz.. I promised ya Ronnie Coleman.. so here's Ronnie.. ** Muscle & Fitness, August 2004 - page 171 184 Pound Gain Plan by Lara McGlashan, MFA, CPT Question: Should you do cardio only precontest or is it important to do cardio off-season to control bodyfat levels? Answer: "I do 45 minutes of moderately intense cardio activity four days a week, even when I'm not training for a contest, alternating between the stair stepper, treadmill & bike. A lot of people think cardio makes you shrink, but cardio can actually help you gain muscle. Think about it: The more cardio you do, the more you'll want to eat, and the more nutrients your body will have at its disposal for growth. Cardio will only make you shrink if you don't eat enough food or if you eat foods with poor nutritional value. Doing cardio certainly burns calories, but if you're eating enough of the right foods, the losses will be nearly all bodyfat, leaving you leaner and meaner all year round." ** Well, there ya have it folks... I'm also living proof of this... as I've been doing 20 minute HIIT cardio sessions on an elliptical after my back & chest day workouts to bulk cleanly and increase the use of bodyfat for energy... I will mention that I've also read that cardio, post workout, should not be done after a leg day workout... as that will hinder your gains... Of course, I'll try thyngs that are supposed to make me grow... but I won't try thyngs that are supposed to hinder my gains... **** Thys article is a copy of a question & answer session in IronMan Magazine... January 2005, page 48 - 50 ... Steve Holman's - Critical Mass Q: - When should I do cardio, before or after my weight workout? A: - A 10 - 15 minute treadmill session before you train legs can do wonders for warming up your lower body for optimum performance. Many bodybuilders don't warm up enough, which can reduce their ability to contract the target muscle. Studies show that a warm muscle can contract up to 20 percent better than a cold one, so warm up thoroughly. Of course, you don't have to do cardio on leg day to warm up. Many top-level bodybuilders do a few sets of leg extensions before they move to their heavy compound quad exercises. For example, Ronnie Coleman does four sets of extensions for up to 20 reps apiece before heading to the squat rack. Walking a treadmill or riding a stationary bike is just another warmup option. Doing cardio after your weight training workout has a fat burning benefit: Because your weight workout has used up a lot of glycogen, especially any circulating in your bloodstream, your body moves into a fat burning mode sooner than it would if you did cardio on a non-workout day or prior to your workout. Some researchers believe, however, that doing cardio immediately after a leg workout can be detrimental to growth and that you should wait at least 20 minutes. So the answer is, if you want to use some cardio for a leg warmup, do it before your leg workout for 10 to 15 minutes, and use only moderate intensity. If you're looking for a better fat burn, do it immediately after your upper body workout or 20 to 30 minutes after your leg workout. Better yet, on leg day do it later in the day or not at all. ***** There you have it.. I hope that the information I provide help you all become lean, mean bulking machines... Of course, my personal goal is to be bigger than all the humans!!! ... So let's all aim for 400 pounds with 8% bodyfat... Peace..~G __________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167#

09-08-2005, 02:02 PM	#2
EME Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,265 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 51	Hey Game, great post! It really still all comes down to calories in vs. calories out. The thing about doing cardio when bulking that is beneficial is the fact that it allows you to eat more calories, and get more good carbs and protein than you would be able to take in otherwise, and still keep your caloric surplus where you want it. The advantage to being able to take in more protein and more carbs is that you ensure that your body is able to pull all the aminos it needs for growth and all the carbs necessary for rebuilding glycogen stores. The important thing to remember if you are going to do substantial cardio when bulking is that your caloric needs are going to ge higher. So, you have to make sure you are taking in enough calories to maintain your caloric surplus where you want it. Doing cardio when bulking has long been a technique used by competitive bodybuilders to be able to help keep their bodyfat in check while adding mass. It's easy to up the amount of cardio slightly if you are gaining too much fat, or drop it back if you aren't gaining fast enough. This technique can easily be incorporated into anyone's routine who is looking to add quality mass without too much fat. The key is detemining your calorie and macro needs, and keeping close track to be sure you calories in vs. calories out provides the amount of surplus you are looking for. - EME __________________ PhysiqueFXonline - Online Nutrition and Training with Michael and Kendra Elias: www.MichaelandKendra.com Team Molecular Nutrition Creative Director FAME Media Group / World Natural Sports Organization Editor-In-Chief FAME Magazine www.FAMEWorldTour.com

09-08-2005, 09:58 PM	#4
GameDayDog The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks! Posts: 1,914 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32	Agreed... Yeah.. I had to provide thys because I've been seeing a lot of folks scared to do any cardio whyle bulking... I was once that way... but for the last 2 or 3 months I've changed my ways... Although I wasn't as dedicated to doing it as I have been recently... I agree about the calories.. I would hope that everyone running a bulk cycle has their calories and nutritional intake set up correctly.. Whether it's 40/40/20 or 50/25/25 ... or 30/50/20 ... (I never recommend going below 20% in fats, as I've been informed that it reduces the body's testosterone production ability. Thus increasing dietary fat can help those with low test levels) ... One of the main points I always try to stress for those that want to do cardio whyle bulking is to do cardio when they're glycogen depleted.. If they do cardio in the morning on an empty stomach, or after a weight lyfting session, they body is more apt to burn fat cells for fuel... and allows the protein & carbs you consume to go toward building muscle... When you add cardio to your bulking routine, it may seem lyke it's hindering your gains.. but I propose you will making gains... Especially if you're esting ryght... It will just seem slower compared to someone adding muscle & bodyfat (pure weight) .. vs .. the person adding mostly lean muscle while keeping fat gains to a minimum (lean muscle mass) ... Personally, I recommend cardio after a workout... it's just convenient cause you're already in the gym... I'll save the morning sessions for when I'm prepping for a contest or if my weight losses stall during my cutting cycle ... as I said, I practice what I preach... so we'll see how it goes... Peace..~G __________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167#

09-09-2005, 02:27 AM	#6
Aftershock Steel Pimp Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	I've believed all this for years... Ok, maybe I used to be a no cardio while bulking person up intill a month or two ago :o but alot happens in a couple of months, you know. Now I don't even "bulk" __________________ sholiz: im drunk and i want some fruit loops Aftershock: no i know you need to maintain a certain level of professionalism on ironmass Aftershock: how easily i can destroy that... sholiz: just in appearance `````````\\|\|\|/ `````````(o o) ,--ooO-----(_)-------------, \|````````` Aftershock ````\| \|```````````is```````````\| \|``````````sexy````````` \| '--------------Ooo----------' ````````\|__\|__\| `````````\|\|\| \|\| ````````ooO Ooo

10-03-2005, 06:06 PM	#7
mistermuscles Amateur Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 84 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 4	Quick question for you guys. I am going to do cardio after weight-lifting, so do I drink my PWO shake before or after my cardio session? Thanks! __________________ GameDayDog Is The MAN! IronMASS Kicks IronASS. :nosthumbs

10-03-2005, 06:39 PM	#8
chlaxman Pro Stature Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine baby Posts: 560 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 9	I agree that doing cardio on a bulk is a great idea, although I have found that anaerobic cardio (sprints) is great for keeping fat off and aiding in lean mass gains. If you've never tried sprints 3x a week, you should look into it, especially while bulking. __________________ Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. :weight_li :dumbells: :bed2: :friday:

10-24-2005, 02:48 AM	#11
builtbeast Großer Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: In a very red state Posts: 1,430 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 94	I always am doing cardio whether I'm bulking or not. Personally, I believe it is important to do cardio especially for those that tend to put on bodyfat. Since I am a meso-endo I tend to put on fat fairly easily and this helps to keep it under control while still making lbm gains.