[opariser1001]

Does anyone find that as you increase your cardio training, your weight training performance goes down? Like, I can't lift as heavy as I could a month ago, because I recently started upping my cardio for my training for Japan tournament.

I HATE not being able to lift as much!! ARG! Man, it's like when I don't squat the weight i set for myself that day it stays in the back of my head all day. AH!

For a while I wasn't doing as much cardio or karate training, but I stayed very consistent with weight training, and my strength went up as if I was on steroids! Now I'm training for Japan, and I'm losing strength! (Even if only slightly). Anyway now that my rant is over, my question is really: has anyone experienced this? is it normal?

Thanks in advance guys.

[Gazelle]

I haven't experienced it, but it makes sense, depending that is, on how you train. If you have been upping your cardio and decreasing your weight training, you will definately find that after a reltively short period of time your muscle will diminish slightly, as you are not as consistantly using it as before, and, depending on how much muscle you actually have, you'd probably find that you wouldn't need much of a change in your weight training to see this. Plus, if you are doing more cardio, could you just be more tired when you go to lift? It's bound to have some affect. I don't claim to be any expert, and i'm sure someone can give you a reply round here who knows what they are talking about, but this to me seems perfectly feasible.

[samurai6string]

I have experienced this when I wrestled. I started swimming for all of my cardio. If you have access to a pool, I would strongly recommend it. I got good cardio from swimming, and it also gives anaerobic excercise at the same time. I saw less of a dip in my performance in the weight room as well. But when doing 2 hrs practice a day, and swimming 1-2 hrs 3 times a week, I only hit the weights 2 times a week, that seemed to help as well.

I'm gonna guess you're doing cardio very close to strength training? Right? Thats one cause, you're killin your CNS. Now if you're restricting calories for weight class, then I'd say your losing some muscle. I honestly feel that your karate is more than enough cardio. Your body only really needs 20-30 minutes of intense training and it continues to work for hours afterwards.

When I was cutting a month ago, I actually got stronger as I lost weight. Getting ready to cut again in a week. i split my cardio and weights. Cardio in the morning and weights at night.

[JH]

What kind of cardio do you do? And how much?

[squigga23]

what type of cardio are you doing? What intensity are you doing too? If you're doing higher intensity you're going to use mainly carbohydrates as your energy source and with moderate to lower intensities you'll be using more fats as an energy source. If you are doing intense weight training and high intensity cardio you're going to need to take in sufficient carbs in order to have enough energy for strength gains. If you're not taking in enough carbs you're not going to be able to put up as much weight due to your high energy expenditure. Also are you performing your weight training before or after your cardio?

I do HIIT 20 minutes, seperate from weights.