Bad Cardio?
Categories: Ask Fitz!, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness
Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.
Q. Hi Fitz! I've come across a couple articles recently that are dead-set against prolonged cardio multiple times a week. They suggest that High Intensity Interval Training or low intensity activity only a few times a week at most, alongside regular weight training, is the only way to lose fat and stay fit. I don't think I could live without long runs or my favorite aerobics class. What do you think? Thanks, Samantha
A. Hi Samantha! Thanks for the great question. I'm sure it's on the minds of many. Bottom line, the folks who said that are over-opinionated. Think about Lance Armstrong, the guy does massive amounts of cardio each week and is the picture of health. So do I ... and so do most runners, cyclists, boxers, kickboxers, soccer players and more.
There is more than one way to skin a cat and those who suggest there is not are a tad delusional. Base your training on what works best for you, most folks would kill to be in love with running! I always recommend a balanced exercise program that involves cardio, strength, flexibility and balance training exercises. Whenever you hear someone bashing something as broad as cardio, red flags should go up in your mind. Now get to work!
Punches & Kicks,
Note: The content presented in this Q. & A section is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
missy 1-28-2009 @ 7:18AM
Amen, Fitz!! I do an hour of Muay Thai kcikboxing for one hour 5 times a week, and I dont think i could live without it. It's the only thing fitness wise that I ever really liked. If someone told me that it wasn tthe smartest thing for me to be doing it so much, I'd look at them like they had fifteen heads. Sorry!
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missy 1-29-2009 @ 8:00AM
Well, they say this is the spot to drop your questions for Ftiz, so here goes:
I am an avid kickboxer. I have been doing it for 4 motnhs steady now. It is a group clasee, with actual bags to punch and kick, we use gloves and shin guards, etc. However, because it is a class of 30 of us or so with one tranier, we dont always get the individual attentoin that is required. So here's my question: 'Pivot on the foot". He is always saying to pivot on the foot round roundhouse kicks, side kicks, etc. (pivot on the opposite foot of which you are throwing the kick with). However, how do you do this properly? We perform kick boxing in bare feet on rubber flooring, so to twist one's foot whie balanced on one leg with no slide at all (your foot tends to grip on rubber mats so it doesnt exactly easily twist). How do you do this properly? Is there a trick to it which I am not grasping? My fear is that I am serioulsy going to hurt myself by keeping my leg static while throwing a kick with the other. The instructor seems to do it with no issues at all, and I watch him closely, but I dont know how he manages it!
Thanks!!
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