World reknown trainer and genius, Alwyn Cosgroves take on the long,slow steady pace of cardio.

Talking Of Ineffective Strategies...
Why is it that so many people in gyms invest so much of their precious time and valuable effort on grinding out minute after endless minute on the treadmill, crosstrainer, steppers bikes and the rest of the cardio equipment in the gym?


I mean, has it ever shown itself to work effectively in the past?

Other than when you're brand, spanking new to exercise, I'm willing to bet that most people would answer 'No' to that question... and yet cardio is still the workout of choice for weight loss!

It just doesn't make sense!

Why would you keep on doing something that's not working? (Think of the FLY story again) Must be that insanity that's doing the rounds : )

But would you drop the cardio if you knew that, not only was it not providing you with a decent return on your efforts but that

IT WAS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING YOU FAT?

"What?!!... That can't be right... can it?"

Actually, yes, it's spot on!

You see, when ever you engage in longer duration aerobic activity, your body starts to put out greater quantities of the stress hormone cortisol so that it can assist with converting fat into fuel and keep you going.

Sounds good so far right?, I mean, burining fat is what you're there for!

Well, it's not good at all. You see, one of the side effects of cortisol is that it actually breaks down lean tissue (muscle) while it's doing its thing.

Less muscle equals slower metabolic rate, slower metabolic rate means less calories burned and less calories burned means a greater likelihood of laying down excess calories as fat.

You see, aerobic cardio training makes you more efficient at aerobic cardio training.

Obvious right?

But efficiency is the very last thing you want, after all, an efficient car does more miles to the gallon than an inefficient one doesn't it? It burns LESS fuel!

Do YOU want to burn LESS fuel in your workouts?

Thought not!

Then you need to change strategy.

You need to work faster. You need to work more intensely. You need to include more strength training. You need to do shorter workouts.

Sounds completely backwards doesn't it?

Yet look around the gym and see for yourself how many people who're grinding out marathon cardio workouts look in really great shape.

Won't be many!

Now think of a sprinter or track star...

They're lean right? Very lean! Yet they don't do aerobic training at all.

They train fast. They train intensely. They incorporate strength work.

Their sessions are short.

Sound familiar?


Amen Alwyn, Amen!