| |
| |
|
Weight Loss Information |
|
|
|
Questioning Cardio for Weight Loss?
Q: I've heard you mention that you don't need tons of cardio to burn stubborn abdominal fat. Okay, I can live with that, but you've also said that it isn't absolutely necessary to perform direct ab work either. What gives? A: If you want to build a serious set of abdominals, routinely perform the following exercises and their variations: squats, deadlifts, chin-ups, and standing military presses. These multi-joint movements require a strong contribution from the abdominals to stabilize the core, particularly when heavy loads are used. It is not uncommon to hear clients complain of abdominal soreness a day or two after performing multiple sets with a decent weight of the chin-up or standing military press exercise - the ab prestretch will tap into fibers you never thought existed! And remember, your abdominals act as a natural girdle, or weight belt if you will, when performing all exercises, particularly squats and deadlifts. These muscles act as a bridge between your upper and lower body and are heavily recruited as stabilizers. Sure, isolation exercises like pullovers, curls, and even triceps pressdowns also require a good degree of core stability; however, the loads used are relatively low compared to the big 4 mentioned above. In fact, according to Siff & Verkhoshansky, isolation becomes virtually impossible if large loads are used, and in many cases, the tension developed in the stabilizers will equal or even exceed that of the prime movers!* So, you see, the abdominals can be trained quite effectively as stabilizers - the physiques of top Olympic weightlifters will attest to that. *Siff, MC, Verkhoshansky, YV. "Supertraining (4th Edition)." Denver, CO: Supertraining International, 1999. (pg. 241) Q: I am still very much confused regarding cardio intensity. One book says keep it low intensity (i.e. 60% of MHR) and go for distance; another keep it high intensity (80% or more) and go for as long and hard as you can. The goal is to burn fat. Each book has great arguments for their approach. Which is accurate? A: The second approach is far more effective for burning fat. Without getting into a huge discussion about this, here's how things work in a nutshell. At a lower intensity, your body prefers fat for fuel. Yes, this is true, but two things generally happen: 1. After awhile of doing this type of activity, your body adapts by actually laying down fat (you heard me right) to become more efficient at the given task and this usually occurs in the lower body, and 2. A higher relative amount of fat is burned during low intensity cardio but a greater absolute amount is burned with higher intensity cardio and in less time. Other things to consider are: a) the EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) is greater for a longer duration following higher intensity work; in other words, you're metabolism is much higher for a longer period of time post-workout with high intensity cardio, and b) higher lactate levels exist with high intensity cardio. So what you may ask? Well there is a direct correlation with lactate and GH (Growth Hormone) and GH is a potent fat-burner. Bottom line: with regards to burning fat, do higher intensity work in the form of interval training and you'll get great results. John Paul Catanzaro is a certified kinesiologist and professional fitness and lifestyle consultant with a specialized honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. He owns and operates a private gym in Toronto, Ontario providing training and nutritional consulting services. For additional information, visit his website at www.BodyEssence.ca or call 416-292-4356.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Importance and Confusion of Fat in Your Diet Fats are always looked at as a negative in a diet.. Four Common Mistakes that Overweight People Make I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000 hours researching the lifestyle habits of thin people for my book Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates. In this research, I discovered striking differences between the choices that thin people make versus those of overweight people. Fit or Fat?! "Hey, you have reduced now, compared to the last time I saw you!"These are golden words for a woman who is fat. This woman would not even have lost an ounce but this one makes her feel good. Weight Loss Myths Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and half-truths that gets passed on down the line from person to person. But I'd put weight loss up against any of them for what has to be the most time wasting and even the most dangerous myths out there. The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 1 - The INSIDE OUT Mindset WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness differs from that of conventional wisdom. Most programs work on diet and exercise alone. Tenuate: Should A Diet Pill Be Part Of Your Weight Loss Checklist? Maybe your doctor suggested it. Maybe your favorite outfit doesn't fit you just the way you like, or maybe you've just decided that you want to be the healthiest you that you can be. Learn The Basics Of Weight Loss Have you been surfing the web trying to find a way to lose weight? Are you looking for the perfect solution to your weight loss desires? If you have done much surfing, I'm sure you've found thousands of sites offering to provide you with the BEST weight loss solution. Are they all the BEST? Do they all work wonders? Will you never have to worry about weight loss again?Before you spend lots of hard earned cash on weight loss pills and potents, and hours and hours trying to find the perfect solution to your needs? Let's examine some basic facts about why we gain weight and why we lose weight. 3 Day Diet -- Make Believe Diet Plans The 3 day diet mixes certain types of foods that supposedly react in a specific way to increase your metabolic rate. Apparently, you'll burn fat at a higher rate than usual, but be careful and don't abuse the power of the diet's reaction. Secrets Of Weight Loss One thing's for sure, in this day & age, if you're wanting to lose weight you can be excited and discouraged before you even start down the path. You're excited because you've made the decision, which is the first step, and you know you're willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Lose Weight And Get Healthy; Can Laughter Be A Cure For Obesity? Once there were these two Nuns and they.. 7 Ways to Stop Nighttime Snacking in Front of the TV Stop Being Influenced by Food Ads on TVThere is much in the news today about obesity and you can be assured that the food industry fully intends to place the blame squarely on the individual, despite the fact they spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year in an effort to entice us to buy more and more of their products. Children are especially vulnerable to the advertising for cereals, snack bars, crackers, cookies, candy, and fast foods. A Before and After Look at Tummy Tucks If you have a protruding abdomen, loose skin as a result of weight loss or childbirth, if despite your best efforts at diet and exercise, you just can't seem to tighten those abs, a tummy tuck may be a good option for you. What can you expect from a tummy tuck, before and after? The process will vary depending on the health of the patient and the type of procedure performed. The Benefits of Omega3 Fatty Acids - Losing Weight with Fat! Essential Fats for Weight LossOver the past few decades, the cornerstone of a good, solid weight loss plan has included studying the 'Nutrition Information' on food packaging, thumbing nervously through a 600 page (yet implausibly titled 'pocket sized') calorie counter and triumphantly and guiltlessly striding down supermarket aisles with a trolley brimming with exquisitely packaged, molecule sized, fat free food.To most people, avoiding fat (or consuming as little as possible) is the sure-fire path to a slim and slender body. Lose Weight NOW! - Do or Die Time! Some of you will not like what I'm going to say, even though it is the truth. That may be where the issue of America's health problems lies. Lose A Pound Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not eating for a day? Not eating for a week? Eating less? How much less?Professionals say that it takes 3500 calories in order to loose One Pound of fat you stored in your body. That simply means that you have to reduce your calorie intake for 3500 cal per week, and here you are - one pound less. Quick Weight Loss or Quackery Cellulite - Reduce The Appearance --------------------------------- Sallie Elizabeth has always had large breasts and a big bottom, and she has accepted them as part of her genetic makeup. But when cellulite appeared in the back of her upper leg, she "freaked out" and resolved to do something about it. Six Super Easy Weight Loss Tips If you have been trying to lose weight permanently, then these six weight loss tips may be just what you need to kick start your weight loss program. You may have heard some of them before, but if you make them a part of your core goal, you will not have as much difficulty achieving your weight loss goals. Cellulite: The Biggest Female Epidemic Cellulite is probably one of the most embarrassing of all physical faults that women have.Cellulite isn't just a problem with the obese or overweight either. Mindfulness - The Key to Avoiding Overeating I made myself a sandwich today and thought I'd be efficient and do some work over lunch. I was brainstorming some ideas for my next article. What Makes Your Blood Cholesterol High or Low Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL-cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
