Best choice for cardio while cutting bodyfat?

[Dante666]

I've been reading on this board and appreciate the great reading. Now I have something that I want help in addressing. I'm trying to cut bodyfat for the summer. While on a business trip a few weeks ago in California, I ran into an aerobic rowing machine and liked the workout I got from it. Since I don't see very many of these I want to know how effective they are. They strike me as being pretty good since it seemed to work a little of everything at once. So how good is the aerobic rowing machines in your opinion? And what do you think is the best cardio for cutting bodyfat?

 

[Zander1983]

I think the best cardio is the one that you dislike the least!

I love any competitive sport, and am blessed to be able to play indoor 5-a-side soccer on a weekly basis. The best cardio I could wish for.

 

[Dante666]

I don't really dislike a certain cardio exercise, just all of them.

 

[Zander1983]

I find restricting my calories - to a point where I don't have to do cardio in order to lose bodyfat - is very, very painful. Cardio is a necessary evil. As long as you're doing SOME cardio as opposed to none, you're much better off.

Intensity has got to be the key when it comes to comparing different forms, I think. Some form of intervals, sprints etc. is going to provide you with the type of intensity bouts you need, regardless of the method of cardio you chose.

A rower is great - it works your entire body. I'd also try jumping rope, sprinting, and any form of non-weighted or weighted GPP.

 

[Dante666]

That sounds about right.

Describing my training to the letter my man. I mostly do 10-15 sprints at 1:00 intervals. On my off day I still jump rope briefly and knock around a punching bag (mostly to relieve my stress). I'm with though, I would rather do cardio than restrict calories to a point where it is not necessary. Anyone else want to chime in or have anything to add?

 

[Tony104104]

what do you think is the best cardio for cutting bodyfat?

Like Zander1983 said you have to watch your diet/calorie intake....I know alot of people that cut without cardio....


In my opnion all cardio machinea are equal....Do something your comforatble with...For me, interval training for 20minutes is the best fat burner....Ofcourse along with a good diet!

 

[spatts]

Cardio is cardio...pick the least catabolic thing possible. Like eliptical or walking.

Diet is where it's at for fat loss.

 

[Lee]

ive personally found that swimming is the most effective and most strenuous. jogging is too hard on the joints.

 

[Scotsman]

In my opinion the "best" cardio is whatever you can stick with doing. I like bike riding and can keep doing it. I don't like walking/jogging very well so it is hard for me to keep up the intensity on.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[OAKBOX]

ive personally found that swimming is the most effective and most strenuous. jogging is too hard on the joints.

I agree! Swimming is a low/no impact, total body workout that can be light, moderate, or even high intensity... by far one of the best things you can do for your body. If you’re tired of your old routine, try it!

 

[gymtime]

Cardio is cardio...pick the least catabolic thing possible. Like eliptical or walking.

Diet is where it's at for fat loss.

Exactly. The point of cardio is to get your heart rate up. How you do that is almost irrelevant. Diet is key. In fact many argue that if your diet is sound and you lift consistently, you don't need cardio at all. Debatable of course, but you get the point.

 

[gettinlarger]

I remember Cornholio saying that walking on an incline on a treadmill is the most effective. i.e. burns the most calories per hour.

Pick things you enjoy doing man. But you must diet too.

 

[casualbb]

Exactly. The point of cardio is to get your heart rate up.

Exactly. When you can do, that, though, without overfatiguing a particular bodypart, it's even better. What I mean is, say you do sprints before leg day. You probably wouldn't want that. So, rowing machines and swimming are great because they allow all muscles to work you into that high heartrate, not unduly fatiguing any of them and hurting your workouts.

-casualbb

 

[gymtime]

Exactly. When you can do, that, though, without overfatiguing a particular bodypart, it's even better. What I mean is, say you do sprints before leg day. You probably wouldn't want that. So, rowing machines and swimming are great because they allow all muscles to work you into that high heartrate, not unduly fatiguing any of them and hurting your workouts.

-casualbb

Agreed. As I'm cutting right now, I'm finding the eliptical/cross trainer thingy much less catabolic than the am jogging I did two years ago.

 

[Curious George]

Try interval training. There are a lot of great posts at www.anabolicfitness.net by a fella names Fukkenshredded. That dude is unbelievable on getting ripped.

Check it out for the best advise given.

 

[collegiateLifter]

high intesity interval training and low intesity aerobic work both have their merits.

 

[Lee]

everyone goes about gettin cut their own way. but the fact still remins, diet is 90% of the work.

 

[Dante666]

Well, the dieting part is definitely on track. I've been focused in the past, but since the new year I've been insane. I'm currently about two weeks into my cutting and I'm down 8.3 lbs (fairly accurate measurement, I have no idea of bodyfat until after week 4). The end of week three is in three days. I can't find a rowing machine so I'm sticking to the sprints with the occasional elliptical if I want low intensity longer workouts. You guys are awesome, I truly appreciate how everyone has chimed in...if anything it really has helped to raise my motivation even higher.

 

[MJSbossman]

Doing high intesity cardio boosts growth hormone levels. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but growth hormone burns bodyfat.

I agree diet is key. I used to drink a weightgainer shake with 100g of carbs right before bed when bulking, but now I just drink a protein shake.

 

[jackangel]

From what I've read, I'll agree that some form of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is the best for losing fat while keeping muscle. People also like it because it's short (15-20 minutes) and because of the intensity, two reasons which help stave off boredom when doing cardio. Most of the calories are burned not during exercise, but afterwards, due to changes in the metabolism.

I remember reading a thread about rowing and HIIT somewhere, which said that rowing could work well for HIIT, provided that proper technique was used (some wouldn't use their legs enough, and so couldn't push their intensity to the max).

 

[aug1516x]

HIT cardio is the best for losing body fat. I read something really interesting about it in my college textbook. As soon as I get home maybe I will pull it out and post it. They did a comparison of the amount body fat and lean body mass that was burned off using both HIT and normal cardio methods.

 

[casualbb]

You mean HIIT? I think HIT is of dubious fatburning merit. (haha just messin)

-casualbb

 

[Dante666]

When I hit things I do seem to do better, and I do work out with a punching bag as I mentioned earlier in this thread.