Still Confused: Are There Any Cardio Benefits to Weigh...

S

Soosan

Cathlete
I posted a question last week about the differences in the cardio benefits of interval vs circuit training. One of the replies was from A-Jock, who said that the elevated heart rate you get during the resistance cycles of a circuit workout was probably the result of other overloads on the body that don't have much to do with the cardiovascular/cardiorespiratory system.

That clarified things a bit for me, but I'm still confused because I figure, if the heart rate is elevated, the heart is working hard and that would be beneficial, right? Even if the primary benefit of weight training (not necessarily circuit training) is not cardiovascular/cardiorespiratory, isn't this a secondary benefit?

My heart was pumping this morning when I did PLB! Doesn't that imply cardio conditioning of sorts? Also anecdotally, it seems my cardio capacity improves when I regularly do Bootcamp. How can 8 measly minutes of cardio improve my capacity that much? Don't the resistance cycles play a role as well?
 
RE: Still Confused: Are There Any Cardio Benefits to W...

Hey Susan:
This is just coming off of the top of my head but here goes, the difference I see and feel, is the real anaerobic threshold push at the end of an intense interval. Compare your oxygen intake after IMAX2 interval 9 compared to your oxygen intake after finishing a cardio/weight circuit, sure it's elevated but not (IMO) as winded as at the end of an interval. If you had all of the necessary equipment (which you may:), I hear that's quite a home gym you have;-)) and could have a reading of your VO2 max (volume of oxygen intake); that post interval maximum would exceed most of the post circuit maximums that I can think of. BootCamp pushes the anaerobic threshold through very intense cardio, who knew we could get that winded in a minute!!!}(.
The cardiovascular benefits. I believe, are in the push, when you are working cardiovascularly outside of the comfort zone and really pushing that anaerobic threshold higher.
The resistance cycles are certainly beneficial. The sustained breathing and elevated heartrate help preserve the cardio capacity that we already have but don't directly result in increased capacity.
Like I said, this is just what I think. I'm really interested in what others think too, good question.

Take Care
Laurie
 
Hello, Sooooooooooooosan (if that is your real name) . . .

Actually, if you go onto the Cathe.com home page and look to the right margin (scrolling down a bit) you'll find an excellent article written by Cathe herself explaining the differences in cardio benefits (or lack thereo) in weight training vs. true cardio training.

As far as improving cardio capacity by regularly doing Boot Camp, IMHO that could come from the fact that the explosive power required to complete many of the cardio cycles improves your overall physical capacities, enabling you to put more punch into ALL of your other workouts. Much like I-Max. I'm sure the resistance cycles, especially the leg cycles, assist in building power and performance capacity for cardio work as well. Remember, in order for cardio work to be truly meaningful it must be rhythmic, sustained and incorporate the LARGE LOWER BODY MUSCLE GROUPS.

A-Jock
 
i.e.

LARGE LOWER BODY MUSCLE GROUPS......which explains why squirrels are so physically fit....they always use those leg thrust jumps to get from tree to tree:7 :7 :7 :7 .

I'm sure this is crystal clear now }( }( }(

Briee
 
RE: i.e.

There's also the leverage advantage regarding the length of the legs vs. the length of the tail. It's all just physics, pholks.

A-Jock
 
If it's any help Susan, I am as dubious about "weight training not providing cardio benefit" as you are. I would have thought that squats and step ups would help cardio conditioning: how different is an extended series of step ups with heavy barbell from step work? Stepping up and down, using the large muscles of the lower body........Hmmmm. I'm suspicious.

Clare
 
RE: Still Confused: Are There Any Cardio Benefits to W...

Thanks so much for the replies, pholks!:)

A-Jock, you said that, in order for cardio to be truly meaningful, it must be rhythmic, sustained and use the muscles of the lower body. I can understand the sustained part, but why does it have to be rhythmic and use the large lower body muscles? If your heart's working harder for a sustained length of time, it's working harder, right?

Laurie, my home gym (which, as stated in another post, is vastly superior to Cathe's new facility -- it also contains a variety of large trees) does indeed have the necessary equipment to test my VO2 max. Rocky uses it all the time to lord his superior cardio capacity over me. I think Briee and A-Jock are right about the constant leg thrust jumps as well as the leg to tail ratio of squirrels giving them an unfair advantage.
 
RE: Still Confused: Are There Any Cardio Benefits to W...

Hasn't it been stated that the substained heart rate has to be for a minimum of 20 minutes??? Not sure the HR stays consistant for a whole 20 minutes during other parts of the weight training. (But, I could be wrong.)
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Still Confused: Are There Any Cardio Benefits to W...

I wouldn't know much about the 'squirrel advantage'. I'm from Bullwinkle Country, don't you just love his quads:) I never thought to ask about how he trains...hmmmmmm....

Take Care
Laurie:)
 
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