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Most effective cardio


View Poll Results: most effective cardio
exercise bike 11 9.65%
running (treadmill) 48 42.11%
aerobics (tae bo ect..) 8 7.02%
stair master type machines 18 15.79%
a mix of all of them, explain 29 25.44%
Voters: 114. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 01-02-2005, 10:52 AM   #1
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Most effective cardio

1st off I'd like to say I compare doing cardio with rolling in broken glass and then taking a bath in alcohol. Now with that said I do know its a must durring cutting so I would like to know what is the most effective cardio, is there one activity that is "better" than the other or would doing anyone of these prove effective. Thanks for any feedback.



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Old 01-02-2005, 11:03 AM   #2
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I find the eliptical machine is the best cuz its low impact, and I burn the most calories on it and work up the biggest sweat. Although the stationary bike is good after a leg day when you don't have any strength left in your legs to support your body weight



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Old 01-02-2005, 01:24 PM   #3
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Stairmaster's slightly more effective than an elliptical, but is also more gruelling.
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Old 01-02-2005, 01:29 PM   #4
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Thanks for the feedback I wasn't sure if one was better than the other, or if they all were good for burning as long has you got your heart rate up and your sweat pouring.



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Old 01-02-2005, 01:37 PM   #5
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I enjoy the eliptical the most and that is basicly my cardio staple. I hate treadmills but if thats the only option I will sacrfifice.

Cardio isn't always needed to lose weight...its mostly in the diet...to get very low body fat % though you def need cardio. Last year I got to 9%bf with no cardio.



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Old 01-02-2005, 01:40 PM   #6
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I dont think which machine you use really changes things. Its all about what type of cardio. Like, HIIT vs Max-OT Cardio. Traditional cardio, etc etc.

You can do any of those on any machine.

Curling - Definitely run a search on HIIT and Max-OT Cardio. Those are your best bets.

And like Deadbolt said, cardio isnt NECESSARY, but it does help a hell of a lot.



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Old 01-02-2005, 01:42 PM   #7
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I like Taebo, because I can act like im kicking peoples asses while burning calories.



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Old 01-02-2005, 01:46 PM   #8
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I like Taebo, because I can act like im kicking peoples asses while burning calories.
You just like Billy Blanks.



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Old 01-02-2005, 01:55 PM   #9
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Main thing it to do 20 or more continuous minutes. All are effective, though i'd say the bike's less so because you're seated and there are less muscles and exhertion involved, unless you're spinning which is more challenging. Tae Bo's very good but isn't aerobics; doesn't provide the consistency that cardio requires even though the heart rate's heightened.
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Old 01-02-2005, 02:02 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pumpster
Main thing it to do 20 or more continuous minutes. All are effective, though i'd say the bike's less so because you're seated and there are less muscles and exhertion involved, unless you're spinning which is more challenging. Tae Bo's very good but isn't aerobics; doesn't provide the consistency that cardio requires even though the heart rate's heightened.
Just as long as your heart rate is up your going to burn more calories. The bike does fine you just need to put alot more effort into raising your heart rate to a desired level.



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Old 01-02-2005, 03:07 PM   #11
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Precisely and as mentioned. Bike riding's more comfortable, but is not on the level of the others unless it's done with particular rigor..
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Old 01-02-2005, 03:57 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by du510
You just like Billy Blanks.




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Oh, I think Americans understand that the one thing conservatives hate the most is the idea of spending American tax money on Americans. . .in America.


Your tax money is safe. . .in Iraq.
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Old 01-02-2005, 04:39 PM   #13
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Stairmaster, Stairmill and the treadmill for me. Only thing that targets my legs and butt the most.



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Old 01-02-2005, 05:47 PM   #14
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Whichever one you like the best, cuz then your most likely to do it!
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Old 01-02-2005, 05:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShannonC_77
Whichever one you like the best, cuz then your most likely to do it!
Thats the best answer yet.

Good call.



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Old 01-02-2005, 06:28 PM   #16
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What if you hate cardio all together LOL....or am I the only guilty one. I just do it b/c I have to.



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Old 01-02-2005, 06:54 PM   #17
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What worked best for myself was doing HIIT (High Intensity Interval Traning) on the bike mostly. But you can do it any number of ways, for me thoa, i prefered the bike because it was easiest to do that while listening to music and it was easiest to monitor just exactly how much more i was doing during the high intestity part and how much less i was doing during the medium intensity part, if that makes sense. But keep in mind you should ignore the calorie burned read-out cuz its shit, especially if your doing HIIT.
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Old 01-02-2005, 07:22 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeadBolt
What if you hate cardio all together LOL....or am I the only guilty one. I just do it b/c I have to.
I'm with ya on that one!



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Old 01-03-2005, 07:11 AM   #19
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Interval training on any exercise is a great way to reduce the boredom factor while at the same time it's supposed to burn calories more effectively. Spinning's along the same lines.

Last edited by Pumpster : 01-03-2005 at 10:20 AM.
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Old 01-03-2005, 07:44 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pumpster
Main thing it to do 20 or more continuous minutes.
no way!

my cardio sessions last between 12 and 14 mins, and are extremely high intense (HIIT style), run 1:30, sprint flat out :30 repeat 6-7 times

very effective stuff, i'm sweating all morning after this, if i can get up to 15 mins that means i'm not running fast enough and next session i up the levels

IMO its the only way to do cardio, certainly the most effective

peace
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Old 01-03-2005, 10:22 AM   #21
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Sounds excellent, but duration's as or more important than intensity. You're getting half a loaf and kidding yourself to some extent. High intensity work like sprinting's awesome for fat burning, but doesn't maximize cardio.

Interval training would combine what you're doing with periods of medium and lesser intensity to elevate the heart rate for longer periods, plus it would allow for more than one bout of the maximum exertion you're now doing; try it.
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Old 01-03-2005, 10:34 AM   #22
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I love all type of cardio, except the one who are high impact, like treadmill.

As for type of cardio, you need to know couple of things. For fat loss, HIIT and traditionnal (low-mid intensity cardio) are both great. The difference is that HIIT cardio should be treat like a workout, therefore have something to eat before and after, because HIIT cardio is highly catabolic, like a training session. However, low intensity cardio can be done when you wake up or after a weight training session, for about 20-25 min, and burn fat effectively. Since the intensity is pretty low, it will not eat muscle to provide energy (cortisol level will remain pretty much the same during cardio). You are then oxidizing FFA in circulation, therefore burning fat.



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Old 01-03-2005, 10:37 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by young d
no way!

my cardio sessions last between 12 and 14 mins, and are extremely high intense (HIIT style), run 1:30, sprint flat out :30 repeat 6-7 times

very effective stuff, i'm sweating all morning after this, if i can get up to 15 mins that means i'm not running fast enough and next session i up the levels

IMO its the only way to do cardio, certainly the most effective

peace
Effective as in fat loss sure but not the most effective for cardiovascular health.

For the record, I hate cardio witha passion but it has it's place and is needed for health and fat loss.



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Old 01-03-2005, 10:40 AM   #24
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Exactly.

The other thing that worries me about HIIT is the detrimental effect on the central nervous system. Nice way to burn out unless you're Type A+. Probably best to use it only on some days in combination with traditional lower-intensity work to avoid this and to optimize cardio.

Boring for sure, upside is that as you get better at it, it becomes easier and less gruelling, so the time goes by faster once your body becomes more efficient. Kind of get used to it.
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Old 01-03-2005, 10:41 AM   #25
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I HATE CARDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It sucks the Big one!!!



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Old 01-03-2005, 06:49 PM   #26
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awesome feedback thanks guys and gals!! Ofcourse going for biggest fat loss route, as far as cario health well I'm a smoker AND I LOVE IT!! (Even though you guys are gonna flame the shit out of me but oh well.) but I can still manage to run my 3miles every other day on average of 19min 36sec which is just fine for me. Which leads me to my next question in a weeks time I'm running 9miles total am working against myself bulking dramaticly? I know its not helping for bulking purposes but I'm not sure if its working against me A LOT. My gains streng and mass are still deceant nothing to rapid but they haven't stopped either. thanks again



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Old 01-03-2005, 08:29 PM   #27
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IF you want to bulk while doing cardio, just eat more. It shouldnt be a problem to gain weight even if you do cardio.



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Old 01-03-2005, 08:55 PM   #28
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I never used to do cardio when I was trying to bulk however usually half way through my bulking period I've always noticed my mid section getting more and more "jelly" like and by the end of it my abs were almost non existant then when I'd cut I go crazy on the cardio, virtually drop all supplement intake ie: creatine and protein shakes,but I would take hydroxy cut, and cut my diet down and it would still take damn near a solid 2 months just to get my abs back. FRUSTERATING, so now I've stuck with cardio bulking or not cause even though without I was probably building more