Top Cardio Myths
February 20, 2009
Get on that treadmill and burn that fat is the common belief that goes around. Sadly it was never so simple. Cardio yes does burn down the fat but with our fancy treadmills these days and all their displays we are being led up the garden path day in and day out.
Cardio is all about intensity. If the level of intensity is not reached each day I’m sorry you are not going to lose that fat. You may think you have burnt 500 calorie, but how much good did it do for you is a big question.
Some people think that all I need to do is hit the treadmill and burn ‘X’ number of calories. Yes so far so good. For those who are getting onto the treadmill for the first time yes oh yes the formula surely works. But a point of time comes when despite working on all those fancy displays on our treadmills being the same as before we suddenly find, bang! Where’s the weigh loss? There is none.
The heart has got used to the intensity of your work out now and so is not having to work any harder. When you had first hit the treadmill your heart was much weaker. Now with 2 months and some great weight loss your body is a lot more superior in its functioning than it was so before. It is now time to increase the intensity of the exercise routine.
Let me suggest that you start by learning to measure your pulse rate after each work out. You will need to have a digital watch for this. You can get a decent one at any store. Do not waste money on an expensive one. After your work out on the treadmill place your fingers on your throat. You should feel your pulse fairly comfortably there (it will be comfortable to feel/track, as it should be ‘racing’ since you have just got off the treadmill). Count your pulse for a minute. Practice this for a week till you have got used to taking your pulse.
Subtract your total age from 220 (220- 51= 169); multiply this by 2(e.g. 169*2=338) divide this by three (eg338/3=112.6), 51 is the age in this example. So for a 51 one year old his hear rate should be 112 at least for it to be called an effective cardio work out. So if you have come of the treadmill with a lower heart rate than 112 (like in this case) that work out was of no use.
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