best way to get in shape? i suck at running!

[liquidmuscle]

i have just completed my 2nd day of Mixed Martial Arts and we had to run the obstacle course for 5 mins after 3-3min rounds of sparring...i lasted about 2 on the o-course! can someone help me find a way to get in bettah shape, i ride the stationary bike for 30mins but i guess that doesnt help much

 

[Japanese machine]

if you want to lower bf%, lift heavy and sdjust diet accordingly. IMO cardio is overratted when trying to lose weight.

 

[Y_lifter]

My first attempt at following the Bfold principal of improvement..
IMO what works for my goals is a combination of Moderate Cardio and Intense Lifting...

liquid is asking what I perceive as a Cardio conditioning question when he says "in shape"

You aren't going to improve Cardiovascular conditioning by doing ONLY Anerobic lifting IMO.

True, the strength training will help on the obstacle course, but the endurance of making that strength last would be gained with some Cardio as well...

liquid, I can't run well either and found for cardio conditioning especially for the upperbody without the impact, swimming is fantastic.
The other option is to either do Super Sets with little rest between, or to get on a treadmill and fast walk with the ramp set above 5% incline...

 

[liquidmuscle]

you hit it right on the head y-lifter, i could handle the sparring for 3 mins after i was done with that i was breathing hard but not heavy then when we did the o-course i ran it twice and then my instructor saw i was breathing heavy and said for me to sit
it out, i didnt want to cuz i want to show him i can do it and that i am not a quitter

 

[Y_lifter]

It may sound Fem., but the best cardio I have ever done is a heavy session on a Stair machine.
My Heart rate was rocking at like 170 or so for 20 Min...
Sweat running off me like Niagra falls...

If you can do this 1-2 times a week, your cardio endurance will improve vastly.

I've seen huge ripped guys fail when tasked with cardio endurance events.
I have also see huge guys able to keep up with the thin runner types for a while at least because they don't ignore the need for some cardio in their training.

It's all in ballancing the cardio with the Strength training so that one doesn't defeat the other.

Guys like BFOLD I would Imagine have extreme explosive power for the short term events and also moderate endurance in the longer lasting strength events.

My goal is somewhere between a Powerlifter and a Runner as far as Cardio condioning goes. A bit More on the Powerlifter side

 

[mlomker]

The best that I've found is the Stairmill machines (they are like mini escalators). They will kick your butt in 20 minutes flat.

I have asthma so I can't run well, but the stairmill is excellent conditioning without going over my limit.

 

[nikolai_bolkov]

Boxing, best hands down.

 

[MidwestJ]

swimming will rock you

 

[scout420]

Ya I agree with Y Lifter try tose stairs they kick my ass every time.

 

[TC2]

Boxing, best hands down.

definetly boxing, hitting the heavy bag(while moving around) and the speed bag is the best form of cardio there is.