Want to start doing cardio in the morning

[--Wolf--]

Currently I am training for a Muay Thai fight in October and need to get in shape. I'm reasonably fit, am 80kg and would like to start doing some cardio in the morning to tone and keep my fitness up.

My main question is, should I be doing it before or after breakfast? I know this is asked a lot but most of the time it's for people who want to lose weight, which I don't. I'm not REALLY a bodybuilder although I have some size I'd like to keep and add to, and at the same time I have some body fat I'd like to get rid of.

Because of the hours I work (noon - 9pm) I do my weights and cardio at night. I have a small meal when I get home, do weights, half a protein/carb shake, cardio (mostly HIIT, love that) other half of shake, and 4 pieces of white toast (only time I have white). All of this is between 9 and 11, then in bed by 12.

I don't wake up hungry but I can easily have my 8 weetbix + milk for breakfast around 10.

I want to start doing 20 - 30 mins cardio in the morning without losing any size, so should I do it before eating anything, eat a banana, small protein/water shake first or what? And what kind of cardio should it be? eg HIIT or just a steady 20 mins or so.

Thanks

 

[benachamp]

It's always good to eat before working out, you need energy to get the maximum benifets of working out, and to work out to your full extent. Before a workout in the morning I eat a 150 calorie meal, a bowl of cereal or something, wait an hour to let my body digest it and then workout. 15 minutes after working out I will eat 4 oz's of chicken breast (110 cals.) with 3 tablespoons of salsa (37.5 cals). As for what type of exercise I would do 30 minutes of light/ moderate incumbant biking, swimming, or walking and jogging. I really suggest a computerized bike because it will calculate your calorie totals for you, I would say you want to burn around 200-250 calories. It's really hard to say that you want to lose fat but not drop size..... so take everything I say as just a suggestion, because first of all we are all setup differently. I am surprised your HITT weight lifting isn't doing the job, that would have been the first thing I would advise. Your case is a bit complex, hope someone else with more experience than me can help you out!


good luck!

Ben