weights and cardio

plo40 · November 7th, 2005, 10:29 AM

I've been doing weights for a long time now, and I have noticed a trend that I can't seem to shake. It used to hit me when I played basketball, and is now affecting me now that I am boxing 3 times a week.

Whenever I incorporate a high-endurance cardio routine, my strength goes WAY down, my desire to lift goes way down, and my joints (especially in my shoulders) feel like I am going to damage them when I lift. I never have this problem when I just lift.

I realize that basketball can break down muscle, but the effects are almost immediate. I lose strength within a week if I play more than once!

Is there something I can add to m diet that can help me with this?

**Italianangel** · November 8th, 2005, 02:42 PM

What is your diet like now?

plo40 · November 8th, 2005, 04:03 PM

My diet is usually good until dinner:

8am: protein shake, apple

10am: gen soy bar, almonds

12:30 - 3pm: bean chips with salsa or garlic hummus, chicken breast or tuna sandwhich or trader joe's shredded beef sandwhich, protein shake

6:30pm: some sort of fast food

9-11pm: snack on more chips, low fat chocolate milk

I tend to crave more bad food when I do cardio stuff. I also take glucosamine with chondritin and a multi-v in the mornings.

**Italianangel** · November 8th, 2005, 05:49 PM

I would add some oatmeal or all bran bar with your 8am, some yogurt to your 10am, lunch looks good.
Try chicken breast or meatballs and spaghetti for your 9pm with tomato sauce.
Make sure to have protein in your 6pm - not just carb and fat.
Linda
This is considering you are not overweight, you are fit and not concerned with leaning out, you need the fuel for your activity.

**ntnfdvd** · November 8th, 2005, 06:47 PM

Throw some brown rice in with your lunch as well...good source of good carbs.

**painless2** · November 8th, 2005, 09:03 PM

There is an inverse relationship between cardiovascular endurance and strength, though the reverse is not true. Back off on the cardio if you are trying to preserve strength, especially in relation to the specific joints in question. Utilize more sources of cardio training and limit accordingly for strength workouts.

plo40 · November 9th, 2005, 12:22 AM

Thanks guys. And by the way, I do consider myself to be in shape, despite coming off knee surgery a few months back. My problem is that I can't back off once I start getting into bball, and obviously playing 3 hours straight will catabolyze some muscle.

I'll try to cut it back a bit, just wanted to see if there are any supplements I can take or important nutrients that I am missing out on that will help me keep some of my current lifting levels. I think that is what is contributing to my lower motivation levels...