There are three major physical elements in obtaining optimal fitness: aerobic (cardio), anaerobic and flexibility training. Aerobic or cardio training is important to your hearts health. Yet, cardio can be hazardous to your health. For years we have heard to do aerobics to lose weight, strengthen your heart and for overall fitness. Today, most fitness experts agree that long periods of cardio or jogging is counterproductive.
We all know people who are cardio addicts. You see them on the thread mills and stationary bikes at the gym, in the one hour aerobic classes and jogging through your neighborhood. Yet month after month, year after year they spend hours doing cardio, they might lose some weight yet their body composition doesn’t change and they look the same just a smaller version of themselves. The perfect example of this you’ll be seeing on TV this month while watching the Olympics. While you sit by your plasma TV cheering on the USA compare the bodies of the sprinter VS the marathon runners. Sprinters have great looking lean yet muscular bodies.
Marathon runners, who are the example of the extreme cardio workout, have what is called the "skinny fat" body. You can not tell the difference between the men and the women. The men have lost their wide shoulders and the women have lost their hips, breast and shape. Running long distance is not a natural act. Our bodies were not made for long distance running or an hour of aerobics.
Unfortunately the hazards of doing the long cardio workout is not just about how your body will look. Long-distance runners have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death then any other athlete or sport. They have low resistance to viruses and bacterial infection. They are also prone to battle lower back problems, chronic ligament and joint problems. The best way to strengthen your heart is by intensity not by long distance running or long duration exercise. As natural hunters our bodies were made for short intervals such as chasing down the prey to hunt. Short burst of intense exercise followed by a short rest such as high intensity sprinting will get you in great shape and strengthen your heart. My favorite exercise methodology kettlebells will give you a cardio, anaerobic and flexibility workout in only 20 to 30 minutes. Kettlebells will get you in great shape in a short amount of time. Yet, if you do not have kettlebells or access to kettlebell training facility you can also sprint, do plyometrics, circuit training, run up and down stairs.
In closing let me quote fitness expert, MD and author of “Rediscover Your Native Fitness Pace,” Dr. Al Sears “The biggest mistake of the 1980s is finally over and done with… Jumping around for 45 minutes to an hour won't boost your lung capacity, it won't strengthen your heart – it won't even help you lose weight”. In studies at Laval University in Quebec, Canada they compared short burst intense exercise to traditional cardio. In the study they had the cyclist do 45 minutes without stopping. They had another group do brief 90 second intense bursts. The people doing the cardio burned more calories yet, the group that trained for 90 second lost more body fat.”
So, if you want to loss unwanted fat, feel great and strengthen your heart cut the long and boring cardio and make sure that you stretch, do bodyweight exercises, kettlebells or weight training with short duration intense cardio work for optimal fitness. Make sure that you leave the cardio for the end of the workout so that you do not burn muscle tissue. You’ll also be happier for it since you’ll have more time to enjoy yourself and spend the extra time with friends and your loved ones.
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