Body for Life - 20 minute Aerobic Theory

B

Belgian

Active Member
Hello, all,

I would love to hear your thoughts on the Body for Life 20 minute aerobic theory. BFL believes that you should work intense cardio for 20 minutes and stop for the day. They say that there's actually a catabolic affect on your muscle if you carry aerobic activity past this 20 minute period, causing a loss of lean muscle mass.

Please let me know your thoughts . . .

Lisa
 
I think it is a theory..

I have read some articles from natural body builders and when they are trying to loose body fat ...they do cardio...and itis high intensity...but their time isnt always as short...I think everything I have read is not to really go over an hour...but that over 20 minutes, you are not to that stage yet.

Also the body builders do cardio usually first thing on an empty stomach...so if they were going to lose all that precious muscle with 45 minutes of cardio..I dont think they would be doing it.

anyways...That is some of what I have read...Hopefully this helps with that...Some BFL people have had great success with only 20 HIIT...I think others may need longer ...I guess you can try both and see what works better for you..
good luck
samantha
 
I've followed it for almost two years now. I swear by it. Now I do believe it says not to continue the INTENSE 20 MAS past 20 minutes. Many of us who do BFL do moderate cardio for longer periods. I don't think he means any type of aerobic activity, but it's been awhile since I read the book. I've worked out on and off my whole life and prior to BFL was doing 60-90 minute cardio 5 times a week, and lifting 45-60 minutes 4 times a week. For me, BFL works much better and I have more free time in life.

Also if one is doing the 20MAS correctly, you should be 2 steps away from throwing up when you are done. That's how hard you should push yourself. For example, my 10 - boogey man is 2 feet from me; my 9 - boogey man is 50 feet from me, ....and so on.

Colleen
 
That makes a lot of sense...A lot of cardio at the gym I see others doing is really moderate if not easy...no sweat, no heavy breathing. It makes sense the the BFL message is kick up the intensity do get the metabolism kicking. I alternate intervals and steady state cardio for endurance ...It is funny though cuz my steady state, I tend to push to hard cuz i am used to feeling like I am not trying hard if I take it down a notch...

There is no way I could be on a machine for longer than 45 minutes...even with headphones and tv's it is too boring...but now, a CATHE step tape...that is another thing all together!!!:)
 
Thanks for your quick responses! I really do appreciate your feedback. I guess what I'm getting at is if the ideal is to do 20 minutes intense cardio (to avoid catabolizing muscle) how does one incorporate this thinking along with the Cathe sessions that run much longer than that? Just curious if you folks are breaking up her workouts into smaller chunks or just going full blast for the time she suggests. (By the way, I'm so used to doing 45-60 minute intense cardio, it's going to be hard for me to get into this 20 minute idea anyway.)

Thanks, again!

Lisa
 
Cathe workouts are a different intensity. While they are still high intensity, they are not quite the 20MAS like BFL describes continually the whole workout. The IMAXs are close workouts but HIIT (interval training) vs. 20MAS. Try the 20MAS a few times running, biking or step climber and you'll see the difference. I'm not saying that Cathe doesn't work...I'll never give up my Cathe <G>, but the 20MAS does work wonders.

If you are following BFL and going to do 20 minutes of cardio make sure it is 20MAS. Otherwise, I'd do other cardio. I alternate 20MAS with Interval training on the stair climber or videos. When I do interval training or videos I do 30-45 minutes.

Colleen
 
>
>Also if one is doing the 20MAS correctly, you should be 2
>steps away from throwing up when you are done. That's how hard
>you should push yourself. >

LOL Colleen - I never thought of it that way, but that is exactly how I feel once I've done his 20 min HIIT on the treadmill. My legs are like rubber, my heart is pounding, and I'm sweating like a cow in labor. If done right, you are spent.

- Shopgirl
:)
 
20 min of this type of training is plenty.For me it is all the cardio I do if I do easier longer workouts I feel as if I'm wasting my time.For me it is intense and be done with it no longer will I do over 20 min of cardio (unless it is for enjoyment).
 
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