Cardiovascular Training
What is cardiovascular training? Cardiovascular training is
anything that gets your heart pumping at an elevated speed.
This includes: walking, jogging, bike riding, swimming,
playing sports, dancing, roller skating, really anything
that gets that heart pumping. The more muscles groups you
are using, the harder the heart is working. Cardiovascular
training is used to burn calories and to improve
one’s overall conditioning.
Why should I train my cardiovascular system?
Walking , jogging, biking, dancing, swimming… they
all seem to take so much effort! Why should I make myself
do these types of exercises and activities? While
cardiovascular training may seem like a chore, you will be
more than willing to engage in cardiovascular training
after reading the following benefits to cardiovascular
training!
Weight Loss
Probably the most cherished side effect of cardiovascular
training is losing those unwanted pounds! Since your
body’s decision to store fat is based on the equation
of Energy In vs. Energy Out, the more Energy Out that you
have the less energy you will have to store on your waist,
hips and thighs.
Conditioning
When was the last time you got winded walking up a flight
of stairs? Not the greatest feeling was it? When you are
wheezing and clutching your side ache you know without a
shadow of a doubt that you are out of shape!
When you train your cardiovascular system you will begin to
find that you don’t lose your breath as easily under
strenuous activity. Your heart becomes conditioned to pump
faster on demand without sending you into a wheezing fit.
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body and if
you want to enjoy the new body you are about to create,
then wouldn’t you want to have a healthy heart along
with it?
Disease Prevention
Heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes are just a
few of the diseases that you would be defending yourself
against with cardiovascular training. By losing excess
weight and conditioning your body, you arm your body
against these and many other ailments.
Resistance Training
What is Resistance Training? Resistance training is
anything that gives resistance against your muscles. The
most traditional resistance training is dumbbells or
barbells, but it can take on many other forms as well.
Cable machines and pulley systems give great resistance, as
do elastic bands. Using your own body weight is another way
to give your muscles resistance.
Today you have many options when it comes to resistance
training- but they all have one thing in common… it
will change your life!
Why should I lift weights?
Weight lifting… isn’t a macho guy thing
anymore! The last time I checked my most successful clients
haven’t been registered for any upcoming body
building shows. “But I don’t want to look
muscular and bulky.” I cannot tell you how many times
I hear this comment from women when I encourage them to
lift weights. The critical thing here is that in order to
be fit and toned you NEED TO lift weights or do some type
of STRENGTH TRAINING. Resistance training can literally
change your entire body, let alone your self confidence and
self esteem, but most importantly, resistance training
could possibly be the best thing that you will ever do to
keep your body looking and feeling 10 years younger.
Metabolism
Resistance Training is the one thing that we do that
elevates our metabolism for hours after a workout.
Cardiovascular workouts are effective and necessary, but,
after an hour of running, your metabolism is only elevated
for less than an hour before going back to normal. On the
other hand, resistance training will literally raise your
metabolism permanently. This happens because weight lifting
is actually a process of breaking down muscle tissue and
re-building it back stronger, firmer and with more tone.
This process takes time and energy AKA calories. Once you
have added muscle tone to a given area on your body it now
takes even more energy to maintain this muscle.
So here is the run down on why resistance training is such
a metabolism booster:
When you weight train you break down muscle fibers, which
takes energy to rebuild. When these muscle fibers have been
rebuilt they are tighter, firmer, more toned and now take
more energy to maintain.
Hence: a higher metabolism all day long. Simple, yet so
effective!
1 lb muscle burns about 50 calories a day
1 lb of fat burns about 4 calories a day
You need regular challenging exercise in order to achieve
and maintain results. It's as simple as that.
----------------------------------------------------
Machelle Lee owns and operates The Invisible Gym in Santa
Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become
physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced,
healthy lifestyle. For more information and questions you
can visit her website.
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