Topic: Conditioning

[Bryant Wright]

I got a question on what type of conditioning can be while training for a competition and when i should do it in relation to my training.  I train between 3-5 in the afternoon and I want to be able to do a little conditioning to help with my body composition without it compromising my training sessions.  Should i do it in the morning or after workouts, and what type of conditioning to do that could maybe even help my lifts?  Any replies back would be much appreciated. Thanks

[Matt Rupiper]

Bryant,

In regards to the conditioning question....why?  Remember, you are training for an event that requires maximal rate of maximal force production.  Conditioning, particularly aerobic, will only be detrimental to this sports needed power/strength requirements.  If you are using conditioning for weight requirements/cutting, dieting will be far superior to weight loss than additional physical activity.  The amount of calories lost in diet far outweigh those expended in more training.  If you are still wanting to do conditioning for this sport, make it specific to the sport.  Interval training per research, shows increase weight loss when compared to long duration low intensity activity.  Intervals of jump rope, sprints, jumps would be more specific to this sports compared to treadmills, ellipticals etc.  In regards to when....any time that doesn't negatively effect your training.
Hope this helps a little.

[Matt Erdman]

I agree. The competition period is not the time to do conditioning. Walking would be the only additional activity that I would recommend.

How much weight do you need to cut down? Also how far out are you?

[Jalaine Ulsh]

First - I agree with everyone else that doing conditioning work while preparing for a competition isn't the best situation.  But I also understand wanting to add conditioning to help make weight.

IMO, the only conditioning work I've found that didn't seriously tax my legs was jumping rope.  If I have to do something extra to help make weight (other than just fixing my diet, which is my first choice), I'd jump rope in a separate session from weightlifting, and I usually do 3-5 rounds of 250-300 jumps. 

[Bryant Wright]

Yeah I understand what ya mean about not doing it while preparing for a comp.   I only need to cut down around 7 lbs so it was not so much for cutting the weight so much, but to help with body composition but maybe i should just worry about that after the competition.  The main reason is that im on christmas break from school and have a lot of extra time and the place i do my lifting only allows people to lift there from 3-5.  So with all my extra time i was wanting something else to do.  Basically i was just looking for something to fill in down time till i can lift.  Maybe I just wont worry about it till after competition.  Thanks for the advice

[Bryant Wright]

Oh and Matt I have been meaning to get back to ya about that video.  It was all on my g/fs computer and after i made that video she went and deleted all the single video files so all i have is that entire video sorry about that.  Sorry it took so long

[Matt Rupiper]

Bryant,

Are you at school and lifting at the Salvation Army?

[Bryant Wright]

Yeah Im at home for a few days, but yeah then Im coming back to lift there.