Cardio

Hi,

From what I have heard everyone talking about cardio on this forum, they all recommend to either cycle or step. What about the other cardio machines that are available.

I burn about 380Kcals on the treadmill if I do a very fast 20minute walk? Is a treadmill or rowing machine less effective than cycle or step.

Shed some light on this matter, plz.

Thanx

Cardio is cardio - no matter what, as long as your heart rate is 140+ and you do this for minimum 20 minutes, whatever cardio you are doing, is working!
But the body adapts quite quickly. Try and "cycle" the cardio excersizes - do cycling the one day, treadmill next day, health walker/stepper next, trampoline next, ect.

This is what I do www.ast-ss.com/articles/article.asp?AID=97

hi all

Is rowing seen as a good cardio as well as a full body workout?I am just wondering beacause it tends to get the heartrate up and it pounds on the biceps,abs and back muscles.....its like a two in one?

cheers

Rowing works well for me for toning, like doc said, anything that gets your heart rate up will do. Trial and error bud, use what works for you and what you enjoy doing more. Some people hate the treadmill and I am one of them, so I don't use that at all. Other people say that's the only way to do cardio, you decide.

yea i hate the treadmill 2............i am not realy the joging type of guy...i have a certain akward movement when i jog(wadle).ok so now my cardio will be cycling and rowing....aslong as my heart rate stays at 140 i should be fine.what happens if i up my heart rate?Will i be burning more calories?What will burn more calories....more intense rowing or rowing for a longer duration?

I would go for longer duration as this will increase fitness levels more as well as stamina and help you in your workout. It also depends when you do your cardio, I do it on "lighter" days like after chest and not on "heavier" days like back and legs and then off days is also a good time. Mix it up and see what you personally prefer.

Mario van Biljon wrote an excellent article on high intensity cardio vs low intensity in the Muscle Evolution Mag I think two issues back. I found this article to be very informative on the subject - it was backed up by numerous Sports Medicine studies. Go and have a look.

If I do Cardio I use the bike,, purely because I feel real clumsy on on the treadmill,, and my legs chafe together..

Are you doing cardio for fitness or weight loss?

Cant not comment here!

Rowing
Ok so I did rowing through school and varsity. You want an all out workout that works all your muscles, the ergo (rowing machine) is the way to go. It works all the major muscle groups. In terms of the rowing stroke and mucles used the most or are most important:

1. Legs
2. Back
3. Stomach
4. Arms+Shoulders

Anyone else tells you any different to above points....they wrong. The only catch in using the ergo is getting your technique right. It makes a HUGE difference using incorrect technique to correct technique. 90-95% of people at the gym are doing it wrong....so if you want to go this route...I suggest you ask someone on the correct technique. Unfortunately most of the instructors get the technique wrong too. If you really keen on learning the technique...let me know, will help you out.

Running
I love the treadmill and running. If I have to compare workouts between running on a treadmill and rowing on the ergo...well, if I run for 20min pushing hard on a treadmill....I can prob only manage the equivalnet of 10mins on the ergo. If I had the stamina to use the ergo all the time...I would.

So ja...till Im back up to the fit level I used to be at...the treadmill will do just fine for now. Treadmill and road running is also great for fat burning and losing the tyre. The key with the treadmill is to set the gradient to 0.5-1%. That will simulate running on the road. A gradient of 0% on the treadmill will basically equate to a very slight downhill when running on the road.

When I trained for Comrades I lost plenty of weight...with just running long distances. I didnt have a diet and ate what I wanted. I just made sure I spent as much time on the road as possible, not trying to run fast....just a long, steady, comfortable running pace.

Hope this helps

Start a post on the correct technique for rowing, it would be good to know.

Good idea Netro. Will start it tomorrow...home time for me!

yea that would be realy great...i will be rowing for weight loss.see my major problem is my boep and pecs...so that spells CARDIO...Any way i met this lady that was rowing next to me,and she said that i should pull my arms into my abs for best burn on the tummy.so i dunno if thats what you refer to when u say the right method....looking forward to ur post.

Damn Thunda. Good to see you again buddy!!! Thought we lost you. Hope you have been reading..

Bro, I think that lady was hitting on you, lol!!! Maybe she was trying 2 say:" Row me you silly ninjakid" Lol, lol

hahaha i get lost every now and then,but there are nice guys with white clothes that help me back to reality...i love the hug urself suits...lol.Hope all is well kraz...yea i am learning plenty,but i have yet a long way to go before i will trust myself in the pharmacy..lol.I would so have loved to row that lady's way...tight!anyway the best thing happened to me...got a new job with its own huge gym...can u say pump it!!lol...anyway to all the nubes shut up and read read read...got it?now go read sum more.

haha... Yea man... Congrats!!! Just remember, offices romances are not advisable... But if u playa material, theres always a way to get down dirrrrty!!

Shit....just read my post again...seems like a damn ego trip post! WTF...k, need to edit my post and tone it down. My bad...

Credentials are credentials..... Now hows about teaching us to row?

Sorry...my bad...work is erratic today. Puting a doc together

thunda wrote:

yea that would be realy great...i will be rowing for weight loss.see my major problem is my boep and pecs...so that spells CARDIO...Any way i met this lady that was rowing next to me,and she said that i should pull my arms into my abs for best burn on the tummy.so i dunno if thats what you refer to when u say the right method....looking forward to ur post.

Will comment quickly on this while I have time. Yeah, she is almost right. Should not be into the abs though, stroke finishes with the arms pulling in to between the top of your abs and the bottom of your chest, if that makes sense. It should actually finish juuuust above the bottom of your chest where your rib cage starts to split from the sternum.

When we had trials on the ergo...okes use to come off it with these big red marks on their sternums from the handle hitting their chest at the end of their stroke. But those guys had bigger arms than I did!

Will post up the technique ASAP!