HIIT cardio increases muscle mass?

[xenopus]

I'm on my cutting phase and been doing the HIIT routine for my cardio on the rowing machine for nearly 2 weeks, 2x a week , on top of my weight training , also 2x a week.

I am pleased with results so far - more vascularity, abs more defined. In fact, I have seen an increase of 3-4 lbs in body weight over the last 2 weeks, which I speculate is lean muscle gain.

Does anyone who practice HIIT cardio experience the same thing i.e lean muscle gains ? Am I being unrealistic here in speculating that the extra 3-4 lbs is muscle gain ? Could it be just water rentention and/or excess fat?

ps. I am on an ECA stack and on maintainance calories and take around 200g of protein per day.


Thanks !

 

[DIESEL]

Originally posted by xenopus
I'm on my cutting phase and been doing the HIIT routine for my cardio on the rowing machine for nearly 2 weeks, 2x a week , on top of my weight training , also 2x a week.

I am pleased with results so far - more vascularity, abs more defined. In fact, I have seen an increase of 3-4 lbs in body weight over the last 2 weeks, which I speculate is lean muscle gain.

Does anyone who practice HIIT cardio experience the same thing i.e lean muscle gains ? Am I being unrealistic here in speculating that the extra 3-4 lbs is muscle gain ? Could it be just water rentention and/or excess fat?

ps. I am on an ECA stack and on maintainance calories and take around 200g of protein per day.


Thanks !

well, if you say you are more vascular and have more definition in your abs, I'd guess it's probably mass and not water.. as water retention would tend to blur your cuts.

and yes, HIIT has an anabolic effect on the body, so it could result in a slight increase in muscle mass - especially a full body workout like rowing (excellent cardio choice by the way).

good fukkin' work... keep it up.

Yet another testimonial to the efficacy of HIIT over traditional cardio.

D

 

[enkai]

I noticed that HIIT does make me gain mass, as I lost fat by caliper testing, my weight maintaned and muscle size, my only conclusion is that HIIT made me gain mass.

 

[MetalFortress]

I'm not surprised. The two times I tried EDT, I tried them with running and ended up sore for nearly 4 days afterward. I am not coming anywhere NEAR EDT again until my mile time is below 6 minutes ...