I have a question for you guys. I was thinking about starting running again, and maybe hitting the bikes at the gym to build up my endurance on the ice, but I fear the weight loss due to cardio. I'm not trying to be the strongest guy on the ice, but I'm 6'3" and weigh about 176-180 lbs. I'm definently on the thinner side and try hard using diet and the gym to bulk up. I'm worried if I do the cardio I'm going to start losing the weight I do have. Is it a trade off, or will the cardio not take off the weight I fear it will?
You definatley still want to do cardio. It will get rid of fat. Fat does you know good because it won't make you stronger.
And remember, muscle weighs twice as much as fat.
I guarentee you that if you weight train and add cardio into there, you won't lose
that much weight. You will lose some weight to begin with because shedding fat and water through cardio is always faster than gaining muscle through weight training. But this little story might help alleviate your fears:
I used to work out at a gym in the mornings where the 'regulars' were a group of retirees. One guy, who was well into his 60's, looked fantastic for his age. He hit the weights and did cardio as well. One day he said to me "Hank, today is my last treatment!". Turns out the guy had cancer and was taking radiation treatments. Despite going through this, he maintained his workout regimen. His doctor was amazed because, as he said, he was the first cancer patient he ever saw GAIN weight while absorbing radation treatments.
So don't worry. The initial weight loss you'll experience won't be too bad. And I know exactly where you're coming from. When I was 20 I was 6'1" and 160 lbs. I started working out and within a year I was 185 lbs. I'm now 210 and while I don't appear to be 'big' in the conventional sense I'm not easy to move on the ice. That's not me trying to be a braggart at all. But I have certainly noticed that I'm a lot harder to move in the crease now than I was before.
Thanks hank!
I do work out for 2 hours a day, sometimes I go 2 1/2.
I'm going to go ahead and try all that you suggested. I have been on a no sugar diet for a while. Mainly because I gained 50lbs after I quit smoking. I went from 135 to 185, now down to 180. I needed to gain the weight, but I'd prefer to be around 170 as I lost a lot of speed. So I'm trying to build that up along with muscle.
No problem! I would definately check out some websites out there like
www.abcbodybuilding.com or even some other sites like Mens Health or Muscle and Fitness. There are even some sites that have specific workouts for various sports.
Talking to a certified trainer at the gym is also an excellent idea.
Good luck, and keep at it!