Cardio and fat loss: Don't forget about cardio. Be sure to have some cardio involved in your workout routine. I spend about 25 minutes on the tredmill at least 3 times a week. Cardio can really help you shedd off the fat so you can have lean muscle mass. The best time to run is first thing in the morning before you eat. At night while you are sleeping, your body begins to burn off fat so when you wake up your body is already in fat burning mode. Cardio is also great because it helps you to have a healthy heart. Too much cardio can make you a skinny bean pole so be sure to balance it out.