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"You Have To Do Cardio In Order To Burn Fat?" Really?
Posted by
Bob
,
in
High Intensity Interval Training,
Weight Loss,
Fat Loss,
Low Fat
06 December 2011
·
327 views
fat loss weight loss cardio
The other day when I was at the gym, I overheard a "trainer" telling another gym patron that he never sees him perform cardio, and he has to do cardio in order to "burn fat". He even went on to say that it's the ONLY way to burn fat! This coming from a personal trainer who seems to have a ton of clients! Where do they learn these myths, and just how easy is it to get a certification today? Anyway, lets talk about cardio, weight loss, and the best method for expending fat.
As a personal trainer myself, although I am not currently working as one, I didn't want to get into a debate with the trainer while he was with his client, nor do I see it as my duty to correct such myths in public, so I figured I would address this myth here for anyone else who may have been told this.
First of all, you CAN lose fat without performing "cardio" (low intensity aerobic training), and not only CAN YOU, but YOU SHOULD! Should? You are probably thinking that I really didn't mean that, but it's true, if you are looking to lose fat and retain your lean muscle mass, you want to avoid the catabolic affects cardio training has on your lean muscle mass and focus on high intensity training in order to catabolize fat for energy while preserving your muscle mass! Muscle mass is metabolically active and you don't want to lose your precious muscle mass by using cardio!
Lets quickly look at some facts regarding fat loss. Did you know that your body is always "burning" fat, even at rest? In fact, you can fat can make up as much as 90% of all energy utilized during rest. Of course it's not going to be a whole lot of energy utilization during rest. In addition, did you know your body continues to expend an elevated amount of energy for up to 24 hours after a high intensity exercise bout? Don't believe me? Care to explain the fact that elite sprinters, lower weight division weight lifters, power lifters, etc, have some of the leanest muscle frames around and perform little to no cardio at all.
Alright, so now you know that you DO NOT have to perform "cardio" in order to "burn" fat. Hopefully someone will read this and know the truth about fat loss, weight loss, and the cardio myth.
As a personal trainer myself, although I am not currently working as one, I didn't want to get into a debate with the trainer while he was with his client, nor do I see it as my duty to correct such myths in public, so I figured I would address this myth here for anyone else who may have been told this.
First of all, you CAN lose fat without performing "cardio" (low intensity aerobic training), and not only CAN YOU, but YOU SHOULD! Should? You are probably thinking that I really didn't mean that, but it's true, if you are looking to lose fat and retain your lean muscle mass, you want to avoid the catabolic affects cardio training has on your lean muscle mass and focus on high intensity training in order to catabolize fat for energy while preserving your muscle mass! Muscle mass is metabolically active and you don't want to lose your precious muscle mass by using cardio!
Lets quickly look at some facts regarding fat loss. Did you know that your body is always "burning" fat, even at rest? In fact, you can fat can make up as much as 90% of all energy utilized during rest. Of course it's not going to be a whole lot of energy utilization during rest. In addition, did you know your body continues to expend an elevated amount of energy for up to 24 hours after a high intensity exercise bout? Don't believe me? Care to explain the fact that elite sprinters, lower weight division weight lifters, power lifters, etc, have some of the leanest muscle frames around and perform little to no cardio at all.
Alright, so now you know that you DO NOT have to perform "cardio" in order to "burn" fat. Hopefully someone will read this and know the truth about fat loss, weight loss, and the cardio myth.
