Category — Cardio

I recently spoke to a friend who told me he was doing 45 minutes on the elliptical machine every night because he was trying to “get big.” While that will no doubt help him shed pounds and fat, it won’t help him build lean muscle.

So how much is too much when it comes to cardio? The answer is simple — it all depends on your personal fitness goals. If your goal is to strictly lose weight then 30-45 minutes of cardio is ideal. However, if you’re lifting regularly then you want to aim for 20 minutes of low intensity cardio after every workout.

Keep in mind, this is just a general rule. As I always say, different techniques will work for different people. You just have to find what works for you. Just remember that building muscle requires more calories, so if you’re doing longer cardio sessions you’re obviously burning more calories and that’s cutting into your muscle mass.

In the end it’s all about the look you wish to achieve. I would love to hear what works for you. What’s your cardio of choice and for how long? What intensity do you find works best for you? Share your thoughts.

If you’re a guy and you lift weights, odds are that you don’t enjoy doing cardio. However, in order for those muscles to show you have to burn fat. The quickest and safest way to do that is through low to medium intensity cardio training. Good old-fashioned running is probably the least exciting of all cardio and it’s really the most taxing on your joints. However, more and more people are reverting to alternate methods of cardio activity.

Here’s a list of the top 10 cardio exercises you’re probably not doing. And if you aren’t — give them a shot and see which ones work for you best.

1. Elliptical machine - This is becoming one of the more popular gym machines and great alternative to traditional running. If you’ve never tried it, check it out and find out just how gentlier it is on your joints.

2. Swimming – In the spirit of the Summer Olympics, swimming is one of the calorie burning ”kings.” Mostly because it is a full body workout and you’re going up against your own resistance in the water. You don’t have to be Michael Phelps though – swimming laps for just 20 minutes at a good pace will do the trick.

3. Biking – This is a great exercise because you can choose to use a gym bike and stay indoors, or your own bike and tour the landscape. Make sure you find a speed that is right for you. Typically you can burn up to 500 calories in 30 minutes.

4. Raquetball – It’s gotta be that little blue ball right? Actually chasing that ball burns an average of 400 calories per half hour. And if you’re as competitive as me, you enjoy the trials and tribulations of sports as opposed to a monotonous session on the treadmill.

5. Jumping rope – Ever notice how lean boxers are? Enough said.

6. Step Aerobics – Geared towards women, this exercise targets the most common problem areas while burning up to 450 calories per half hour. Nice!

7. Kickboxing – If you find a class that’s considered “aerobic” or ”cardio” kickboxing you’ll truly get some serious calorie burning accomplished. The combination of perpetual movement, kicking, and punching make it an excellent cardio alternative.

8. Interval training – Yeah, I know you’re sick of running. But, if you’re looking for an alternative to the treadmill, interval training will burn more calories in less time. Check out my previous post to find out what I’m talking about.

9. Rollerblading – If you’re not experienced make sure you have all the gear — heck even if you are experienced. It can be an effective cardio exercise if you do it at a high enough intensity for at least 30 minutes.

10. Power walking – If for no other reason than to just get outside and away from the treadmill, this exercise can hold its own when it comes to burning calories. Yes, you’ll look a little funny, but you’ll burn up to 200 calories in 30 minutes depending on your intensity. Then you’ll be the one who’s laughing.

When I first joined a gym years ago I made the mistake of doing cardio before I lifted. Not good. 

Cardio before weight training is counter-productive to your muscles. Think about it. If you run for 20 or 30 minutes on the treadmill your muscles are going to fatigue and the glycogen it has stored is going to burn out. So you’ll be lifting weights using less than 50% of your muscle’s potential.

You also lower your blood sugar when you lift weights, so when you start running you’ll immediately begin to burn fat. Obviously when you’re lifting you want to maximize your output so wearing yourself out on the elliptical first makes no sense.

Tip: It’s okay and actually recommended to do a light 5-10 minute cardio warmup before you being weight training.

Yo! Most boxers are amazingly fit and lean. Want to know how they get that way? It’s through an extremely disciplined exercise and eating regimen.

MensHealth.com has put together a boxing circuit for beginners looking to reap all of the physical benefits of a boxer’s workout without having to drink raw eggs.

The program combines shadowboxing, jumping rope, pushups, crunches, and various movements with light dumbells. However, the key is combining all of them into one non-stop session.

Bodybuilding.com lists the best types of workouts for football players. They feature two different programs contstructed by a couple of the site’s avid readers and amateur football players.

Being that most positions in football require short, explosive bursts rather than sustained ones, the first workout promotes the 5 x 5 routine (5 sets of 5 repetitions) allowing for 20-40 seconds of rest between each set. It also stresses the importance of a “total body” workout which can help prevent injuries by targeting every muscle group.

The workout incorporates weightlifting, plyometrics, running, and agility drills. This isn’t just a workout for prospective NFL players, anyone from weekend warriors to casual flag football players can reap the benefits!

Many of us who strive to lose weight and tone our muscles have heard of the term interval training but most people really don’t know what it is.

We’ve all been on the treadmill and elliptical machine continuously looking at the timer hoping that its magically going to turn to our desired time and we can complete our workout.

With interval training the focus is on alternating between high and low intensity bursts rather than a sustained 20 or 30 minute session. The purpose is to raise the heart rate, then quickly lower it. The energy that is required to do that burns calories in your body more effectively in a relatively shorter time frame.

You can really do interval training anywhere, on the treadmill, elliptical, pool, track, or a bike. The key is short 30-60 second bursts at full intensity. And then an equally amount of time at about 1/3 to 1/2 of full intensity. Give it a try!