Friday, December 5, 2008

Aerobic Exercise - The ONLY 2 Times You Should Do It

By Caleb Lee

Aerobics (long, steady state sub-maximal cardio) aren't much good for many health or fat loss related benefits. I've already done a post on why aerobics suck for fat loss. And then I went over the health benefits of interval training versus steady-state aerobics in my interval training for fat loss article.

But I have to admit aerobic exercise has its place. It can be a useful tool in eliminating stubborn body fat in the areas guys get it most (the abs) and women (butt, hips and thighs) But only if you do it on one of these two occasions (and I'll explain why too!):

Time No. 1 You Have To Do Aerobics: After Interval Workout

First let's look at what intervals and aerobics do in your body

Steady state target heart rate cardio (aerobics). Makes use of fat for energy, but the problem is it takes a long time to workout for the body to start utilizing fat as energy for this type of cardio.

High intensity interval training. Burns glycogen and releases fatty acids into the blood stream, but it doesn't use those fatty acids for energy, which means they get redeposited into the fat cells.

Here's how you obtain the both of best worlds:

1. Do your 12 minutes or less of interval training

2. Hang around 5 minutes

3. Do 20 (maximum 30) minutes of steady state cardio (aerobics)

When you do it this way, the HIIT followed by 5 minutes rest guarantees a large release of fatty acids into the blood stream, which means you're guaranteed to be burning fat as fuel when you do your aerobics! Neat huh?

Time #2 You Should Do Aerobics: After Weight Lifting

Intense weight lifting is very similar to Hight Intensity Interval Training in the effects that it has on your body, the fuel it uses, etc. So the only other time you should do aerobic cardio is after your weight lifting.

I suggest 20-30 mins of low-medium depth steady state cardio after weight lifting.

Why You Should Know This

CNS overload: If you're lifting weightily, concentrating on strength, doing low reps with heavy weights 3x per week, you're working your central nervous system to improve your strength (for the most part). Interval training on your "off" days may be a burden for some people, steady state aerobics after weights is a good alternative if that's you.

Stubborn fat: If you're about 10-12% body fat (men) or 15-17% body fat (women) by this time and you need to get SUPER ripped, then you have to make use of the HIIT followed with aerobics in this case. It will help unload those last stubborn pounds.

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