Aerobics Are The Best Way To Lose Fat – Right?
Posted on September 23, 2008
This is a trick question, right? Everyone knows you need cardio to lose weight!
Wrong!
In fact the notion that you have to do long boring bouts of cardio to lose bodyweight is WAAAAY outdated.
And research over the last few years has actually shown that aerobics is the least efficient way to lose weight, when compared to intense weight training and high intensity intervals.
That’s why we utilize these methods in our bootcamps, because they get the job done better, and faster.
This article – http://www.drlenkravitz.com/Articles/epoc.html – references just one of many studies that confirm that steady state aerobics is not the most optimal way to get the fat burning job done.
The take home is the EPOC – Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption is many times greater with weigh training and interval training than with aerobics. This translates to more calories being burned after the workout is over, something that does not happen significantly with steady state aerobics. This is a huge advantage – the more calories we burn around the clock the better!
Is there a place for steady state aerobics? In some cases yes, with a caveat. If it interferes recovery wise with training higher on the fitness/fat loss hierarchy (resistance/weight training and intervals) you are probably going to be better off not doing it. Take a brisk walk in the cool fall weather – yes. Spend an hour on the elliptical – not such a great idea.
Spend an hour four times a week at one of our bootcamps – An Excellent Idea! 
Why?
Because you are training in an optimal way to increase your fitness levels and burn bodyfat.
The integrated system of flexibility, resistance and interval training, combined with your hard work and optimized nutrition creates a fat burning furnace!
So if you are using that elliptical for a clothes rack, don’t be too worried about it – that may actually be what it best at.
So now you know the truth about aerobics – what are you going to do about it?
To your best health,
Dean
P.S. October “Get Fit NH” Bootcamp class registration is open right now. Don’t delay in reserving your spot.
Tags: Add new tag, bootcamp, Exercise, fitness, interval, nh, training
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Oct 11, 2008
Yes true..you need weight training as well. Too much aerobic makes you lose the muscle.
Oct 21, 2008
Great post. Although aerobics does have its uses such as increasing blood flow to the heart, it is not the most efficient form of prolonged weight loss. Resistance training is by far the best way to build strength while shedding excess fat. Why? Because resistance training builds muscle and muscle burns energy more efficiently than fat does. So after an intense workout with weights people can normally expect to reap the benefits up to 36 hours post workout. So even when you’re at rest, your metabolism will be running faster which means you will be burning fat more rapidly than if you had merely performed some form of aerobic exercise.
And as a side note, although you may not see a drop of pounds when weighing in on the scale, you will probably look slimmer. This is because muscle takes up less space than fat does, so if you happen to gain a few pounds of muscle (and the faster metabolism that comes with it) while having shed the fat, you will look more toned. So this is an added incentive for anyone looking for ways to lose fat.
Living Fit, Healthy and Happy is devoted to helping people lead a healthy lifestyle. We regularly post informative and motivational articles on topics relating to fitness, exercise, nutrition, anti-aging, weight loss, and self esteem.
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Feb 09, 2010
Great stuff here
Mar 02, 2010
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