The problem with aerobic training depends on the rationale of its use. In terms of training for endurance activities it is obviously part of a good training protocol. But those training for physique development that think they are doing aerobic training to raise metabolism they are wrong. That is the myth in the fitness industry. Not only does it not raise metabolism, it causes it to down-regulate. So if you are doing a lot of aerobic activity you need to examine the facts, not the myths built out of tradition that people seem to need to hold on to despite all evidence to the contrary. The fact is most trainers do not even understand the concepts involved. Too often the terms “cardio” and “aerobic” are used interchangeably but they are not the same. Any exercise or muscular demands that engage enhanced respiration are cardio vascular. All aerobic training is cardio respiratory. Not all cardio respiratory training is aerobic. Aerobic refers to the “state” in which cardio work is performed. For most this usually means steady state set duration training. There is this mentality that strength training is done in the weight room, and cardio is done on the machines. The truth is if you are training with any degree of intensity and to enhance workload capacity then there should be an oxygen debt with weight training. That oxygen debt is “cardio respiratory” in nature. That is a form of cardio. The problem is all the standing around and talking between sets that reduces that effect to pretty much zero. What aerobic training does is make a person more “efficient” at using fat as an energy source. While that sounds great on the surface it couldn’t farther from optimal. To be more “efficient” at using fat as an energy source, it means it burns less of it, not more of it! You become more “fuel efficient” by doing aerobic activity which means you burn less fat, not more fat. Hardly the reason people think they are doing aerobic activity. Then your choice within aerobic activity is to just go longer and longer, which only enhances the effect of burning less and less fat as you get better conditioned to it. Steady state cardio still has a place when it’s properly placed within a program and for the right reasons and at the right time, but now one should ever be doing more than 50 min at one time and IMO never more than 6 days per week max. Take care of your metabolism with proper training and nutrition and don’t starve yourself into shape. Also stay in relatively good condition during improvement season so you don’t have to diet harder and use more and more cardio. Easy and effective ways to optimize progress and metabolic health.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 18:11:02 +0000
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