Fuck I hate cardio... how do you do it?

[satyricon1]

Jogging and running and shit like that, I hate it. Maybe because my conditioning dosnt allow me to do it for very long before im winded. However, I walk every day for 2 hours. Uphill walk, powerwalks etc, I got dogs.

When I am in the gym, I rarely have muscle failure, but rather getting winded from the lifting. I workout following a HST routine, wich removes failure training completely from my routine.

I have also been a smoker for many many years, quit smoking last year, and its the best thing I have done... ever. Still tho, the smoking have put a toll on me, thats for sure.

How do you guys do your cardio? Running, jogging or you have other forms? For warming up in the gym, i lift weights. High rep, low weight, fast fast fast lifting. I get sweaty, warm and winded... =D

 

[forcd]

fuck cardio i hate it.... i dont kno what you mean by being winded by lifting??? are you breathing properly while lifting???

 

[RADAR]

ahhhh ! its not bad get on the treadmill use the oval dots to set your goals, about half way thru blast all out,then slow down to a reg jog ,and when you get ready do another , i use the dots as a goal ,not to stop until i reach a certain area

 

[ExtraMile]

i did alot of fast walking on the treadmill at an incline when I was dieting. Really sucked. At one point I was doing 1 hour sessions of it.

I found the best way to get through it was to just get lost in my thoughts about whatever and day dream, sounds homo but before I knew it I had done 30mins and was half way there...

time always seemed to go slower when I was staring at the clock counting the seconds and telling myself how bad it sucked lol

try to find a type of cardio you enjoy would be the best advice, like playing sports with friends etc

 

[captainahole]

I only do cardio when it's contest time. Barely can get me to walk to the store other wise.

 

[aj13]

boxing!!
hitting the hard bag. sparring in the ring.
Gets your adrenaline flowing! then hit the weights grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Brazilian jiu jitsu is also god but not cardio.. bust a big sweat though

 

[Zyglamail]

Jogging and running and shit like that, I hate it. Maybe because my conditioning dosnt allow me to do it for very long before im winded.

Why do you do cardio anyway, whats your goal? Long slow cardio does nothing for your muscles and little in terms of your bodies ability to consume oxygen. All you are doing is fighting your myofibrillar growth with sarcoplasmic growth all the while kicking out more cortisol.

The typical reason people do "cardio" is to burn some cals and improve ability to use oxygen (ie vo2max). The problem is long slow cardio is a poor choice for either yet day in and day out on these forums people trudge away on jogs, treadmills and stationary bikes, its a waste of time.

If you want to imptove you vo2max and burn an assload of calories then use your muscles! Not like you do in hypertrophy work mind you but use your muscles to a point where you jack your heart rate, where 5-15 minutes of work is all you can do because your giving it 100%.

Mix it up, pick bodyweight exercises or light barbell weights for compound moves. Sting some together and do so many rounds of so many sets non stop and try to get the fastest time Or set a timer and get through as many rounds as you can in the given amount of time. The clock adds a whole new dimension and alows you to gauge your progress.

Next time you are about to do cardio stop and try one of these....

Pick a time like 10, 15 or 20 minutes and do the following...
5 pullups
10 pushups
15 squats (no weight)

count how many times you got through the above and tell me your heart rate wast jacked when done.

alternatively do the above for just 10 rounds and and see how long it takes.

Try jumping rope for 30 seconds as fast as you can, rest 30 seconds and then do air squats for 30 seconds, rest 30 seconds and repeat 4 or 5 times. Should only be 8 to 10 minute "cardio" and if your pushing yourself you will feel it.

try 10 jumping split lunges (go into lunge, then jump and alternate legs) followed by 10 pushups, repeat 10 times and time yourself.

do 100 burpess as fast as you can and record your time

do 7 squats followed by 7 burpess and repeat 7 times and record your time.

It all looks easy on paper but add a clock and try and get done as fast as you can keeping good form and it will work your cardiovascular system much more than that slow boring cardio will and save you ass loads of time to boot.

Word of warning, this WILL burn a lot of calories so pay attention to your diet and up your cals if needed.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

I never do cardio. Im waiting till after cycle because the lower back pumps are too painful even when im doing dishes. But i agree, sports OR HIIT training OR circuit cardio with bw exercises are good.

I also like bb complexes. basically load the bar pretty light (135lbs)

You do 8 reps of the following, right after eachother, without ever letting go of the bar until youre done with the last exercise.

-Deadlifts
-Hang Cleans
-Push Press
-Front squats
-Military Press
-Back Squats
-BB Lunges

Rest. Record your time. Try and do more rounds next time or decrease rest periods. Or you can do situps in between the rounds!

Im actually about to start doing this kind of training 1x a week. Im gonna follow a basic 5x5 scheme (compound movements, 3x a week) BUT add in a day on the weekend specifically for this kind of training (and also vertical jump).

 

[Zyglamail]

I never do cardio. Im waiting till after cycle because the lower back pumps are too painful even when im doing dishes. But i agree, sports OR HIIT training OR circuit cardio with bw exercises are good.

I also like bb complexes. basically load the bar pretty light (135lbs)

You do 8 reps of the following, right after eachother, without ever letting go of the bar until youre done with the last exercise.

-Deadlifts
-Hang Cleans
-Push Press
-Front squats
-Military Press
-Back Squats
-BB Lunges

Rest. Record your time. Try and do more rounds next time or decrease rest periods. Or you can do situps in between the rounds!

Im actually about to start doing this kind of training 1x a week. Im gonna follow a basic 5x5 scheme (compound movements, 3x a week) BUT add in a day on the weekend specifically for this kind of training (and also vertical jump).

Barbell complexes are a great way to jack heart rate as well. One reason I didnt mention them is a lot of gyms dont have bumper or oly plates and frown on your dropping their metal
plates

Another cool thing to do with barbells is string half a dozen movements together and perform them every minute on the minute for 8 to 10 minutes. The series of movements should take 20 seconds or so leaving you a built in 30-40 seconds of rest before repeating.

Try deadlift->powerclean->hang power clean->front squat->thruster back to floor.

You could also do something like......

every minute on the minute for 10 minutes
1 power clean - 10 burpees
2 power cleans - 9 burpees
3 power cleans - 8 burpees
4 power cleans - 7 burpees
5 power cleans - 6 burpees
6 power cleans - 5 burpees
7 power cleans - 4 burpees
8 power cleans - 3 burpees
9 power cleans - 2 burpees
10 power cleans - 1 burpees

Obviously the key is to find a weight you can use for 10 reps when tired with minimal rest between reps to keep things moving.

 

[mikevegas]

I LOATHE cardio at the gym on stationary equipment. I love outdoor cardio. Biking, swimming, skating, ice skating, snowshoeing, rock climbing, hiking, stair running. You just need to find something you enjoy. Doesn't matter if you can only go 10 minutes to start. If you love it, you'll be able to push yourself to keep going and improve your cardio.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

Barbell complexes are a great way to jack heart rate as well. One reason I didnt mention them is a lot of gyms dont have bumper or oly plates and frown on your dropping their metal
plates

Another cool thing to do with barbells is string half a dozen movements together and perform them every minute on the minute for 8 to 10 minutes. The series of movements should take 20 seconds or so leaving you a built in 30-40 seconds of rest before repeating.

Try deadlift->powerclean->hang power clean->front squat->thruster back to floor.

You could also do something like......

every minute on the minute for 10 minutes
1 power clean - 10 burpees
2 power cleans - 9 burpees
3 power cleans - 8 burpees
4 power cleans - 7 burpees
5 power cleans - 6 burpees
6 power cleans - 5 burpees
7 power cleans - 4 burpees
8 power cleans - 3 burpees
9 power cleans - 2 burpees
10 power cleans - 1 burpees

Obviously the key is to find a weight you can use for 10 reps when tired with minimal rest between reps to keep things moving.

nice post bro. I was really surprised at how low the weight had to be (95lbs for me the first time i started and im pretty strong) and it was really hard! Definitely pushed me to the limit.

Questions kind of off topic - since cardio is good for heart health, do bb complexes and things like it count? Or is it the straight running cardio thats good for it? Thats the only reason Id do bb complexes in the first place, its healthy for the heart and its fast and fun

 

[Zyglamail]

nice post bro. I was really surprised at how low the weight had to be (95lbs for me the first time i started and im pretty strong) and it was really hard! Definitely pushed me to the limit.

Questions kind of off topic - since cardio is good for heart health, do bb complexes and things like it count? Or is it the straight running cardio thats good for it? Thats the only reason Id do bb complexes in the first place, its healthy for the heart and its fast and fun

Just like for hypertrophy or for strength, you have to push the muscle to improve, the same goes for your heart. Long slow cardio builds endurance by increasing cell size to hold more sarcoplasm, this is directly opposed to hypertrophy. Long slow cardio also works different metabolic pathways than actual high heart rate muscle work does. You will find in just a few weeks that this high intensity style cardio using muscles will greatly improve your ability to consume and use oxygen and will have a much more positive impact on your ability to to hypertrophy training than regular cardio will.

So to answer you question as to whether barbell complexes count as cardio, the answer will be in the weight you chose. They key is to use weight that you can use for the complex that taxes you but doesnt make you stop due to muscle failure. You want your lunge capacity to be what slows you down not muscle failure.

If you use a weight where the weak link is your lungs then yes its cardio BUT I would not just do barbell complexes. Id mix it up with other stuff like I listed off a above for the best results.

 

[sony190]

i actually love doing cardio feels great i jog for 60 min 4 miles straight and to be honest it gives me an edge on my physique i find the ppl i know that refuse to do cardio cannot compete with my physique and conditioning i just find it to be being lazy truthfully its part of training, unless your a powerlifter or something lol....

 

[Zyglamail]

i actually love doing cardio feels great i jog for 60 min 4 miles straight and to be honest it gives me an edge on my physique i find the ppl i know that refuse to do cardio cannot compete with my physique and conditioning i just find it to be being lazy truthfully its part of training, unless your a powerlifter or something lol....

The whole point is you dont need to waste 60 minutes doing cardio when you can burn more cals AND improve your vo2max in much less time. Varied HIIT style cardio gives you all the benefits of traditional cardio and many more all in less time. However if your one who like to spend 60 minutes pounding your joints jogging more power to ya.

 

[sony190]

The whole point is you dont need to waste 60 minutes doing cardio when you can burn more cals AND improve your vo2max in much less time. Varied HIIT style cardio gives you all the benefits of traditional cardio and many more all in less time. However if your one who like to spend 60 minutes pounding your joints jogging more power to ya.

i agree zyg with varied styles and less time i just feel it needs to be done either way and i know ppl that dont do any and i disagree with that i am also just stating that i enjoy it and it has taken my physique to a different level also there is proper form when it comes to jogging on a good treadmill that wont really affect your joints boxers and mma fighter jog ed

 

[Zyglamail]

i agree zyg with varied styles and less time i just feel it needs to be done either way and i know ppl that dont do any and i disagree with that i am also just stating that i enjoy it and it has taken my physique to a different level also there is proper form when it comes to jogging on a good treadmill that wont really affect your joints boxers and mma fighter jog ed

Im familiar with pose style running etc but I think we can agree that the majority of folks who dislike jogging wont spend the time to learn it or strengthen the muscles needed avoid impact running.

For me I like to get the best bang for the buck. Time is short and for me to consistently get in my "cardio" I use what works the best, which just so happens to also take the least amount of time.

When I am looking for fun ill go trail riding but wont count that as my cardio and certainly cant do it every day.

I agree that it will take your body to new levels and that its often overlooked but the reason I think its often overlooked is because people think it has to be boring long distance trudging.

However as can be seen by some of the ideas above you can get amazing results by just 3x 10-15 minute sessions a week if done right. Most people however still buy into the old cardio thing that it has to be slow and long to get results but that myth has been busted for a long time. Old habits just die hard I guess.

 

[bgbay]

A. ) Your profile picture is fuckin ince haha
b.) I hate cardio too, I train MMA and thats pretty good cardio, BUT I need cardio to compliment my MMA cardio, confusing I know. I find HIIT to be well. not as boring. What I do is war up with a 3 minute walk, then I step to the sides of the treadmil, turn it up to about 10mph, and spring for about 30 seconds then jump off to the sides, drop it back to 3.5mph and walk for a minute and a half, then repeat.

 

[gymjunkie09]

I look for the chick with the nicest ass in the gym and get on the machine behind her. Works every time! LMAO

 

[black koala]

I try to not spend alot of time or energy thinking myself out of doing it.

 

[Deltoid_87]

Running and bodybuilding just don't go together imo. Before I started weight training I used to be able to run miles no problem, but now I really struggle. Still I suck it up and go a little jog once a week. In summer I do 100 meter sprints. Short intense cardio (power) is what u need, not endurance. Just look at sprinters compared to long distance runners.

I can't believe some of u do no cardio what so ever. Cardio is so important for bodybuilding, and general health. A strong and healthy cardiovascular system will allow u to lift harder and longer in the gym, ur much less fatigued u can power through ur sets harder with less of a break in between sets.
You especially need to do cardio while on steroids. All AAS can reduce HDL (good cholesterol) values and increase LDL which can have a serious damaging effect on ur CV ever wondered why cardio is harder while on? You MUST maintain an active cardio routine while on. Doesn't matter what type of cardio as long as it's all lungs and heart.

 

[jiggagold]

jump rope breh

 

[Unrest]

I used movies to get me through boring cardio during summer! Some BB movies aswell for inspiration! I only ever use a stationary bike and have a setup with a plasma and just kick back n pedal and zone out, time goes quick as!!

 

[Nelson Montana]

What happened to people being active? Walking, riding a bike, (a real one) playing sports. The gym is not the place for that stuff. The gym is where you go to build muscle.

 

[RickO'Shea]

I only feel truly fit when I can sprint like the wind and run and play beach ball all day long and not feel it. That's why I do it. Cause the results I get. Lower Bodyfat, Less health Problems. Lower BP, increased lady action....That's all the motivation I need.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

I only feel truly fit when I can sprint like the wind and run and play beach ball all day long and not feel it. That's why I do it. Cause the results I get. Lower Bodyfat, Less health Problems. Lower BP, increased lady action....That's all the motivation I need.

I like your style!!

 

[RickO'Shea]

I like your style!!

Thank you young skywalker.

 

[caribeman]

stairclimber one day, next day run 1 block n walk 1 block, next day threadmill, next day off, repeat. Whenever you run you need to run to the point where you get "lost in your thoughts".... or runner's high.

 

[perico13]

Hitt bro 15minutes post work out for fat burn is the way to go, you use up all your glycogen storage while lifting so once you hit up the cardio all your body has to use for energy is fat! I do it in intervals like this:

Interval 1: 3 mins moderate pace, normal speed..
2. 2 mins: Set the resistance so that you can barely make the machine move..
3. 3 mins: Go at a super fast speed...
4. 3 mins: Set the resistance so that you can barely move the machine.
5. 1 min: Superfast speeds
Cooldown: 5 mins at normal speeds and resistance levels...

you can apply this to anything you do, I for example will do the elliptical one day, bike the next, treadmill the day after and if im feeling really ambitious I'll hit up the jump rope. shit is killer that way but fantastic for calves! lately ive been doing this with the addition of forged burner which in IMO is one of the best if not the best fat burners out. Great appetite supression clean energy, intense focus and sense of well being plus a strong thermo effect!

 

[jiggagold]

jump rope

 

[ceo]

I agree with Zyg. HIIT or complexes, or even other activities you enjoy, like a game of basketball, or football, mountain biking on trails, etc.

And for burning more fat the addition of something like Forged Burner is great.

 

[satyricon1]

I think most of you missed the really good one. Take testosterone, get horney and have longwinded sex with your wife/girlfriend several times a day.. should burn some callories, increase heart rate and breath. Besides, dosnt feel like cardio at all! Pure pleasure!

Now about how to get your lady friend to be your training court... buy her some nice Jewlry! =D

 

[TheN1ghtmare21]

I think most of you missed the really good one. Take testosterone, get horney and have longwinded sex with your wife/girlfriend several times a day.. should burn some callories, increase heart rate and breath. Besides, dosnt feel like cardio at all! Pure pleasure!

Now about how to get your lady friend to be your training court... buy her some nice Jewlry! =D

That works! But just in case that isnt possible I would suggest HIIT training maybe only 16 mins 1 min off 1 min on 8 times and a supp stack of forged burner and need2slin!