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Answer:
The
maximum amount of cardio you can do without
losing muscle mass depends on two main factors:
1.
The type of cardio you do:
You
can do a lot more low intensity cardio work
such as walking without losing muscle as compared
to higher intensity training such as distance
running. Interval training, if done for no more
than 15 minutes, can actually support muscle
mass while burning fat effectively.
2.
Your state of nutrition:
If
you are eating a lot of carbs, your body will
preferentially burn those for energy rather
than eating up your muscle mass. The downside
to this is that you also burn less fat. Thus,
if you are dieting to lose fat, you stand a
greater chance of your body eating up muscle
mass to provide energy. As it is, most people
do cardio to lose fat, in which case strive
to keep your protein intake high and make sure
to do weight training to help preserve your
muscle.
In general, it is safe to say that if you do
20 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio work
three times a week, you will not lose significant
amounts of muscle.
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