Does cardio burn muscle?

Cardio workouts can indeed cause a decrease in muscle mass, but only under certain conditions. If you train for too long, too frequently, and do not eat enough, the body begins to use muscle tissue as a source of energy. To avoid this, it is necessary to structure your training process and diet properly.

Moderate cardio loads combined with a sufficient amount of protein not only do not destroy muscles, but also improve overall endurance. Try to consume at least 1.6-2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily to support muscle protein synthesis.

Strength training is of paramount importance for muscle preservation and growth, so it should be the foundation of your program. Perform strength exercises 3-4 times a week, and use cardio as an auxiliary tool to strengthen the cardiovascular system and burn extra calories.

Under no circumstances should you starve yourself when combining cardio and strength loads, as the calorie deficit must be moderate. A drastic restriction of food combined with frequent running will lead to catabolism and a loss of strength, rather than a beautiful body tone.

Balance is the main key to success in fitness. Separate your strength and cardio workouts on different days or do cardio after strength training so that you have the energy left for quality weight training work.