so i'm trying to figure out how much cardio i should actually be doing while i'm on this bulk. what do you guys think?? i was thinking about maybe hitting it 2x a week on the days i'm not lifting. right now my schedule is 3 days on and 1 day off for weights... i do chest and tris with push shoulders then back and bis with pull shoulders and then a leg day-then a day off and i just keep repeating that cycle. honestly its kinda hard for me to stay away from the gym though lol so i figure on my off days ill just go in and do some work on the rowing machine or the elliptical and maybe get some core work in too. just looking to see what their opinions are or if anyone has some advice-- would love to hear what works for you guys because i dont want to overdo it but i still want to stay somewhat conditioned ya know.
Honestly 2x a week sounds perfect. You’ll stay conditioned without burning out your bulk. I usually do something similar and it works well.
Man, I feel you on not wanting to skip the gym lol. I just do a light 20–30 min cardio sesh on off days and it keeps me feeling good without messing with gains.
I’d say listen to your body. If you feel drained after lifting, maybe keep cardio light. But if you’ve got energy, rowing or elliptical on off days is solid.
Core work on cardio days is smart too, keeps things balanced. I usually mix planks and some hanging leg raises with 15–20 min cardio.
I personally do 2–3 short cardio sessions a week while bulking and it hasn’t hurt my lifts at all. You’re on the right track.
Don’t overthink it too much. Even a 20 min session on the rowing machine is enough to stay conditioned.
Your schedule looks solid. 3 lifting days + 2 light cardio days is what I’d stick with, just make sure you’re still eating enough.
definitely do the cardio man. i used to skip it on bulks cuz i was lazy but my heart rate was through the roof just tying my shoes lol. 2x a week on off days is perfect - it actually helps with recovery since it gets the blood moving. just don't go too crazy on the intensity or you'll burn through your surplus.
haha i feel you on the "hard to stay away" part. i'm the same way. doing rowing or elliptical is a solid choice since it's low impact. i usually just do 20-30 mins of incline walking on my rest days and it keeps me from feeling like a total fat kid while i'm eating everything in sight.
honestly cardio on a bulk is underrated. it keeps your appetite up and makes the transition to a cut way easier later on. your 3-on-1-off split is pretty high volume already though so just listen to your body. if your leg days start feeling weak maybe dial back the rowing a bit.
whatever you do just dont overthink it. a couple days of light cardio isnt gonna kill your gains. if anything it helps keep the "bubble gut" away. plus doing core on those days is a smart move - i always "forget" to do abs when i'm doing heavy compounds lol.
low intensity steady state (LISS) is your best friend here. 2x a week is plenty to stay conditioned. if you start losing weight just add a pb&j sandwich to your day and you're golden. enjoy the extra food while you can bro!
