I just did some cardio today....GASP!
I did circuit training, 1:1 work to rest ratio. The circuit was 3min. long and the rest interval was of equal time, 3 min. long. I performed the circuit 4 times for a total of 24 minutes.
The circuit was:
1-arm KB swings (6 reps on each hand)
1-arm KB squat and press (10 reps on each hand)
Diver bomber push ups - 10 reps
half kneeling rope face pulls - 12 reps
Step ups - 10 reps each leg
Incline Treadmill sprint - 30 seconds
Then rest
I will probably get fat now!! hahaha...
The point I am making is that people seem to be so far to one side of the fence on this. "Don't ever do cardio! Cardio isn't good for fat loss!" The problem with this statement is that anything which causes you to burn calories (decreasing intake, lifting, performing cardio) is going to help you create a caloric deficit.
"But there are people who are on the eliptical machine that haven't lost weight in years!!!"
Yes...and there are people lifting weights in the gym for the past 10 years that are over-fat and don't have a lick of muscle on them. The point is these people are doing SOMETHING wrong. They are missing the boat. The people on the eliptical machines are ONLY doing the eliptical machines and they are still doing the exact same level of intensity for the exact same amount time. They have adapted and they do nothing more than that....they NEED to lift some weights and get out of their comfort zone. Those that are lifting and not seeing results are doing something wrong too....poor programs, NO CARDIO, poor diet, etc.....
What I am trying to say is that a program needs to have balance. My eBook that will hopefully be out in the next few weeks goes into some stuff on cardio as it fits into your overall program. I like to use intervals for fat loss and anaerobic work. I like to use moderate cardio on off days for some recovery or sometimes i use a little at the end of a hard workout (especially a leg workout) to let the body wind down. and i use circuits depending on what i am trying to accomplish at the time (raise work capacity, etc).
you have to find balance in your program. to much of one thing is usually never good.
patrick