A-Z of Fitness – C for Carbs / Cardio

I get asked a lot similar questions, so over the next month both on my Instagram (@fitchicnic) and on here, I’ll be going through the alphabet talking about some of the most common health and fitness related questions and topics.

C is for Carbs / Cardio

Yummy, delicious carbs. In the words of the new bestselling book, Re-nourish by Rhiannon Lambert, her 4 rules for carbs include:
– “Be carb conscious.” (Reduce Refined carbs, and aim for more Complex carbs such as grains, wholegrain bread and rice)
– “Not all carbs are created equal.” (Complex carbs are important to help fuel the brain and body, as Refined carbs lack in nutrients.)
– “Carbs make you happy.” (Helps create the happy hormone serotonin, and keeps concentration/mood swings at bay.)
– “Cutting carbs is unsustainable.” (You can’t maintain it. Opt for balance and long term living.)

Two other tips to remember:
– Excess calories over a prolonged amount of time makes you gain weight, not carbs in particular!
– Unless you’re a bodybuilder, the time of day you have your carbs makes zero difference to weight gain or loss (you can eat carbs after 6pm if you want!)

C is for Cardio
Q: “Is fasted cardio better than non-fasted cardio?” A: No. Studies show a minimal difference between the two. Go by how your own body feels.
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Q: “Is it better to do cardio or weights first?”
A: It doesn’t matter, but I’d recommend weights first for a) safety reasons (you don’t wanna drop weights on your head when you’re tired) and b) so you can put all your effort into lifting to the best of your ability.
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Q: “What’s the best type of cardio?”
A: Whatever you enjoy doing. You can still lose weight without doing any cardio whatsoever (calories in vs calories out remember), but I’d recommend doing some for heart health reasons, unless advised by a doctor not to.
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Q: “HIIT, or Steady State?”
Both. I mean it depends on your goals and preferences, but HIIT is great for a time saver, if you’re stuck at a plateau or *maybe* (say some) it’s better to lose weight, but SS is better to clear your mind, long distance race goals, or for general health over aesthetics.

Photo by Jonathon Vines Photography