Length Of Run??

[del_boi]

Hey,

this is a question for those who know their fitness quite well. I have been hearing and seeing a lot lately somthing about if you run or do your upper body exercises for any longer than 45 mins each (roughly) your body will start to eat into your muscles for energy.

I'm only worried because I've seen it a written a couple of times recently, and on Sundays I often go out for a long run, for about an hour, or maybe a little more.

The last thing I want to do is lose the leg muscles I've built up.

Any answers please???

Corrected by T_T

[benny687]

With aerobic excercises like running where you need oxygen, your body burns sugars to fuel the muscles, and when it runs out of that it burns fat. I'm no expert but I think you would have to drop to 0% body fat to burn the muscle itself during aerobic excercise.

Anaerobic excercises like pressups, situps and weights, that do not need oxygen, do burn muscle. Your body then rebuilds them to be bigger stronger etc...

That is my basic understanding anyway. I may very well be corrected by one or two of the guru's on here.

Ben

[sterion66]

Anaerobic exercise uses carbs as the main energy source rather than eating your own muscles. make sure to have complex carbs stuff like oats, wheat, beans, peas , tatos, wholegrain pasta etc...

Yes you can eat your own muscles but that would be by dieting wrongly, and taking protein from muscles for energy also this slows your metabolism down not the best way to lose weight as soon as you eat again just gonna pile it back on.

It is possible to lose muscle from aerobic exercise like you suggested but as long as you give your body the nutritional support it needs you wont lose any muscle. 45-60 mins cardio as a guideline

Hope this helps.

[Sarastro]

Anaerobic excercises like pressups, situps and weights, that do not need oxygen, do burn muscle. Your body then rebuilds them to be bigger stronger etc...

They don't burn muscle, they tear it - the tears in muscle fibre are then built over with more muscle, increasing size/strength etc.

Not the same thing as 'burning' it, ie breaking it down into little bits to be absorbed by the bloodstream.

[mattbea]

I do believe that the right diet will make that not happen. I find www.royal-marines.mod.uk good for any info on exercise and diets, they will tell you what is best to do, and when, both before and after exercise.
Plus they do have videos to watch on warm ups as well, all a good bonus!..

[sterion66]

It wasn't an opinion Matty, I do lots of research on foods and exercises.

http://www.weightlossforall.com/metabolism.htm

I found something on there to back it up too. Enjoy

[benny687]

Anaerobic excercises like pressups, situps and weights, that do not need oxygen, do burn muscle. Your body then rebuilds them to be bigger stronger etc...

They don't burn muscle, they tear it - the tears in muscle fibre are then built over with more muscle, increasing size/strength etc.

Not the same thing as 'burning' it, ie breaking it down into little bits to be absorbed by the bloodstream.

Something new every day! cheers.

Ben

[plastic]

Steady state running (and other conventional cardio activities) can induce catabolic metabolism ("burning muscle") as muscle is a more readily available source of energy than fat (think marathon runners and their opposite sprinters).

As long as you eat regularly throughout the day high calorific foods, particularly after your run (think cashew nuts, Brazils), you should be ok.


Therefore the best way to lose fat is to lift heavy weights using compound lifts, but women don't listen.