Have you ever been able to successful use a weight loss
cardio workout to successfully lose body fat?
If you are like most people the answer is yes and no ' and
usually in the order!
This article is going to go over a few reasons why the
average weight loss cardio workout might actually be
preventing you from losing weight. I want you to read very
carefully because this just might change your entire
perspective on exercising to lose weight with cardio.
By using the word "cardio", I am referring to doing
cardiovascular exercise using a standard cardio machine
such as a treadmill, elliptical, rowing machine, stationary
bike, upright bike, or any other machine you see in a gym
or at a sporting good store. This also refers to things
such as walking outside or going for a bike ride.
It is very common see someone try to lose weight in the gym
by getting on a cardio machine and trying to go for 30-60
minutes at a slow pace. They may try to do this 3, 4, or 5
days per week!
For the first 2-3 weeks, there is usually an immediate
result. The weight on the scale goes down and you are
feeling great. Soon after however, the weight loss slows
down and your progress comes to a crashing halt.
Here are some reasons why this happens and more
importantly, how to avoid it all together.
Reason #1: It Is Boring!
Unless you are a long distance runner who loves running
with all their heart, you probably would rather spend your
time doing something other than going at a slow pace on a
cardio machine for 30, 45, or 60 minutes. A 60 minute
cardio workout 3-5 days a week is a sure way to lose all
enthusiasm for exercise and be really bored throughout the
whole process.
So many people who do this type of workout try to read a
magazine, watch TV, talk on the phone, cover the timer with
a towel, or do just about anything else to distract them
from their workout.
Reason #2: You Burn Fewer Calories Each Time You Workout
Your body will adapt very quickly to doing a very slow and
long weight loss cardio workout. Think about it like this.
If you went outside and ran a mile right now it would feel
pretty difficult if you were not already a conditioned
runner. But what if you ran the same mile 5 days per week
for the next two months? It would get easier. Your body
would adapt to it because that is what it does best.
The same goes for the average weight loss cardio workout
that lasts for 30, 45, or even 60 minutes. At first you
might burn a lot of calories, but after doing the same type
of cardio workout for too long, the body will become more
efficient and will adapt.
This means that the workout that burned 300 calories in
January might only be burning 150 calories in March! The
only thing you can do it so longer or work harder. Neither
one sounds like a very appealing option.
Reason #3: The Average Weight Loss Cardio Workout Does Not
Stimulate Your Metabolism
Instead of focusing on the number of calories you burned
during a single workout, I want you to instead focus on
burning calories during the workout and for hours
afterwards!
Research has shown that slow same speed cardio does next to
nothing to stimulate your resting metabolism. This means
that you workout for 45 minutes, burn 300 calories, and
then negate the whole workout with a Gatorade afterwards.
How to Fix This Problem
Did you know that you can use a different type of cardio
called interval training that can burn a lot of calories
during the actual cardio workout and for hours afterwards
as well?
When performed correctly, interval training is faster, more
fun, and most importantly, has been shown in research to
have a dramatic effect on your resting metabolism. This
means that you might burn 300 calories during the actual
workout, then another 300 the throughout the rest of the
day!
Interval training is an excellent weight loss cardio
workout option for this very reason. It simply involves
alternating back and forth between high and low intensities
at specific points in your workout. It can be done on any
cardio machine and can even be done walking outside!
If you are truly serious about achieving weight loss with a
cardio workout, then learning more about interval training
is an absolute must. Your will feel like you got twice the
workout in half the time and have a lot more results to
show for it!
----------------------------------------------------
Are you frustrated with working hard in the gym and not
seeing the results you want? Hello, my name is Tom
Gifford, Certified Personal Trainer, and I have some
important information that will be of great use to you.
Come check out my website at
http://www.TheGreatCardioMyth.com and download two chapters
of my newest book absolutely free! The only thing you have
to lose is the excess weight you want to get rid of. Come
see a few of my best tips.
No comments:
Post a Comment