Part 5/9:
Blood Flow Redistribution: Performing cardio, especially if it involves working the same muscle groups just trained, diverts blood flow away from them, reducing nutrient delivery and recovery efficiency.
Increased AMPK Activity: Intense cardio activates the AMPK pathway, which can inhibit mTOR activity, the pathway responsible for muscle growth, essentially counteracting the benefits gained during the weight session.
Local Muscle Fatigue: Continuing to exercise the muscles that were just trained leads to cumulative fatigue, which hinders recovery and growth, creating conflict with the ideal post-training environment.