another cardio question

[kariev]

ok, so I bought BFFM and in it he basically says that all this hype on HITT is b/c people don't want to do longer cardio sessions and are looking for an excuse no to have to do long cardio sessions. What is your opinion of that as i know some of you engage in the HITT cardio? With all the info out there i don't think i've ever been so confused. Weight training to me is simple and there is not a whole lot of conflicting views but cardio......thats a whole nother story

 

[SRP]

Well, I don't know anything about BFFM or HITT, but I'd like to put in my 2 cents worth about cardio. Keep in mind that this is just regular cardio, not HITT. The way I understand it, the average person gets maximum benefit from about 45 min to an hour of cardio. Of course there are a variety of intensities, but I'm basing this on medium-high to high intensity (as in Cathe). After that, anything longer is mostly for those interested in endurance training.

Anybody chime in here if I'm wrong, but in general, the high intensity, short blast type of workout,like sprints, can improve your speed and power (as in air jacks!) and can teach your heart and lungs to handle higher demands. But the longer sessions help to burn more calories overall and build endurance.

To me, it sounds like HITT might be fun to mix in with other forms of cardio. But I'm way too much of a cardio nut to ever want to give up my longer workouts. :7

 

[Fit_mommy]

Hey there.

ANY amount of cardio is better then nothing for one thing. For another thing, I think 20 mins x 3 days per week is sufficient when just looking to keep your heart strong/healthy.

Now if you are looking to burn fat I think you need to do longer sessions of about about 40+ mins like Shannon said. I too have been told by the running coaches that taught the classes that I attended that when you go beyond 60 mins of cardio that your body's focus then shifts from fat burn to increasing endurance.

I can't help you with the HITT theory cause I never read up on it/tried it before.

HTH some!

 

[seeking_guns]

I also own BFFM and did not get the impression that Venuto thinks HIIT is just hype. If you are looking to burn fat, he recommends both steady-state cardio and HIIT. He writes, "My advice is to use both forms of cardio training, focusing on total calorie expenditure and leaning towards HIIT when you're short on time. If you're stuck at a plateau, a change in cardio from regular steady workouts to intervals can often work wonders in helping you break through to the next level of leanness." HIIT is hard on the body, so I've heard it said that you shouldn't exceed 1-2 sessions per week.

Cathy

"I always loved running...You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."
-Jesse Owens