The Cardio Free Diet (the book)

[blueta2]

Has anyone seen or read this book?
I've never been a person who does cardio b/c I don't like it, but I lost a ton of weight and reshaped my body just with weight training. I always felt cardio was a total waste of time.

What are your thoughts on this concept and or book?


Book description: The Cardio Free Diet

Editorial Reviews

Book Description
Are you constantly pounding away on the treadmill but never losing a pound? Does every step on the StairMaster become more and more painful? Are you tired of endless workouts that only make you want to eat more?

Cardiovascular workouts do burn a few calories, but far fewer than you think. And the more cardio you do, the hungrier you feel. Not only does cardio fail to help you lose weight, but it kills -- it kills your time, your energy, your joints, and your motivation. You burn a few measly calories but then eat twice as many afterward. The result? Weight gain -- and lots of it.


The Cardio-Free Diet is a revolutionary four-phase program that emphasizes strength training to boost your metabolism; build lean, sexy muscles; and achieve all the same heart-healthy benefits of cardio. With just twenty minutes a day, three days a week, you can look and feel noticeably leaner, stronger, and younger than ever before.


Weight loss expert Jim Karas has shaped the bodies of Diane Sawyer, Paula Zahn, Hugh Jackman, and even Oprah's best pal, Gayle King. With easy-to-follow instructions, Jim shows you how to exercise the right way in order to see incredible results. You won't just lose weight -- you'll sculpt a whole new physique.


Watch the pounds disappear as you prepare delicious dishes such as apple balsamic chicken, Dijon turkey, feta vegetable omelets, and grilled tomato tuna. You can even enjoy a daily glass of wine! With detailed shopping lists, a variety of daily menus, and helpful tips on how to maintain your diet when eating out or ordering in, you'll never have to worry about what to eat.

 

[DJLegacy2k1]

I don't agree. Some of the theories and concepts are flawed.

"Not only does cardio fail to help you lose weight, but it kills -- it kills your time, your energy, your joints, and your motivation. You burn a few measly calories but then eat twice as many afterward. The result? Weight gain -- and lots of it."

^^^ The above comment must have been made by someone with no self control. There are lots of low impact cardio activities, I always get an energy boost after cardio due to increased endorphins, and after a real good sweat I feel like I accomplished something. I burn 750-800 cals in 45mins on a stationary bike, even more when playing basketball, and I dont go eat a ton afterwards. Accually doing cardio helps me control my appetite it seems because after a good cardio session you dont want do go eat everything in the world because you feel like you accomplished something.

Now I agree that weight training is a MUST! But for cutting I think cardio is a very good tool for overall health and helping add to your calorie deficit.

Im not saying that just weight training to get in shape is impossible by any means, lots of people try and accomplish it, but I feel cardio does alot for youre body as well.

-Legacy

 

[Faizakafez]

totally do-able,

the benefits from cardio for your heart are there but thats a diffrent topic...

Can you loose weight without cardio? defitnely. Highintensity training and caloric restrictive diet can get you there. However factors such as your current bf and lbm percent play a role. If your (male) sub 10% shedding fat through diet alone can be acchived. But if your on the higher end of the bf scale no diet alone will be effeticve but not nearly as effective as with cardio. Cardio is the kicker it can speed up the proccess. But if you truly hate it, yes you can loose weight without it.


~f~

 

[blueta2]

I don't agree. Some of the theories and concepts are flawed.

"Not only does cardio fail to help you lose weight, but it kills -- it kills your time, your energy, your joints, and your motivation. You burn a few measly calories but then eat twice as many afterward. The result? Weight gain -- and lots of it."

^^^ The above comment must have been made by someone with no self control. There are lots of low impact cardio activities, I always get an energy boost after cardio due to increased endorphins, and after a real good sweat I feel like I accomplished something. I burn 750-800 cals in 45mins on a stationary bike, even more when playing basketball, and I dont go eat a ton afterwards. Accually doing cardio helps me control my appetite it seems because after a good cardio session you dont want do go eat everything in the world because you feel like you accomplished something.

Now I agree that weight training is a MUST! But for cutting I think cardio is a very good tool for overall health and helping add to your calorie deficit.

Im not saying that just weight training to get in shape is impossible by any means, lots of people try and accomplish it, but I feel cardio does alot for youre body as well.

-Legacy

I'm not a cardio person so I agree with his concept in a way where you do not need to do cardio to get buff and lose weight.
But I also agree with you that cardio is a benefit to calorie loss.

When I do cardio, I actually feel ill (stomach sick). A times I wish I could blade for hrs in the sun.

 

[musclemom]

Well you did ask for our thoughts ...

Okay, from personal experience I think you absolutely require some cardio (even a regular brisk walk) for overall cardiovascular/pulmonary health and stamina/endurance, and it's also a weight loss tool, just like everything else. I can maintain my weight with just weight workouts/diet, but I can't lose if I don't add in regular cardio (and believe me, I fucking hate cardio, with a passion). If it beats your joints up you have to find the what gives you the best results without beating your body up. If it's taking up too much of your time then you have to find a way to work harder and smarter.

I doubt that people who need/want to get their BF% down relatively low (like being able to see abdominal definition) could do it without cardio.

And I'm sorry, but this paragraph is a total turn off:

"The Cardio-Free Diet is a revolutionary four-phase program that emphasizes strength training to boost your metabolism; build lean, sexy muscles; and achieve all the same heart-healthy benefits of cardio. With just twenty minutes a day, three days a week, you can look and feel noticeably leaner, stronger, and younger than ever before."

Horseshit. There is just no way that you can "sculpt a new, cardiovascularly fit body" with only weights and then only doing that ONE hour a WEEK total!!! Not possible. Three hours a week, maybe you're making a difference then. WTF can you do in 20 minutes?

 

[poysyn]

Well you did ask for our thoughts ...

Okay, from personal experience I think you absolutely require some cardio (even a regular brisk walk) for overall cardiovascular/pulmonary health and stamina/endurance, and it's also a weight loss tool, just like everything else. I can maintain my weight with just weight workouts/diet, but I can't lose if I don't add in regular cardio (and believe me, I fucking hate cardio, with a passion). If it beats your joints up you have to find the what gives you the best results without beating your body up. If it's taking up too much of your time then you have to find a way to work harder and smarter.

I doubt that people who need/want to get their BF% down relatively low (like being able to see abdominal definition) could do it without cardio.

And I'm sorry, but this paragraph is a total turn off:

"The Cardio-Free Diet is a revolutionary four-phase program that emphasizes strength training to boost your metabolism; build lean, sexy muscles; and achieve all the same heart-healthy benefits of cardio. With just twenty minutes a day, three days a week, you can look and feel noticeably leaner, stronger, and younger than ever before."

Horseshit. There is just no way that you can "sculpt a new, cardiovascularly fit body" with only weights and then only doing that ONE hour a WEEK total!!! Not possible. Three hours a week, maybe you're making a difference then. WTF can you do in 20 minutes?

You can absolutely sculpt your body down to >10% bf without cardio. As long as you keep your weight training session heavy and intense and your diet as clean as possible, you will lose bodyfat. I think it is just as easy for my body to get lean with cardio as it is without, and I am an endo.

Although I definitely recommend doing some form of cardio at least twice a week for overall health..

 

[blueta2]

Well you did ask for our thoughts ...

Okay, from personal experience I think you absolutely require some cardio (even a regular brisk walk) for overall cardiovascular/pulmonary health and stamina/endurance, and it's also a weight loss tool, just like everything else. I can maintain my weight with just weight workouts/diet, but I can't lose if I don't add in regular cardio (and believe me, I fucking hate cardio, with a passion). If it beats your joints up you have to find the what gives you the best results without beating your body up. If it's taking up too much of your time then you have to find a way to work harder and smarter.

I doubt that people who need/want to get their BF% down relatively low (like being able to see abdominal definition) could do it without cardio.

And I'm sorry, but this paragraph is a total turn off:

"The Cardio-Free Diet is a revolutionary four-phase program that emphasizes strength training to boost your metabolism; build lean, sexy muscles; and achieve all the same heart-healthy benefits of cardio. With just twenty minutes a day, three days a week, you can look and feel noticeably leaner, stronger, and younger than ever before."

Horseshit. There is just no way that you can "sculpt a new, cardiovascularly fit body" with only weights and then only doing that ONE hour a WEEK total!!! Not possible. Three hours a week, maybe you're making a difference then. WTF can you do in 20 minutes?

I agree, some of what this dude says is more to sell his theory and book than what is reality.
I worked out 6 days a week for 2-3 hrs to achieve all my weight loss and to reshape my fat ass.
I do walk a lot (funny, I don't think of that as cardio though), and when I was working out a lot I would do 15 mins 2 x a week on the treadmill (walking).
But MM, seriously, my abs were rocking and I really never did cardio. I could have gotten a good "cardio" work out from super setting or the high intervals, but I didn't need to run on do high intensity cardio for 45 mins a day to get it.
I really think this guy is just appealing to the lazy fatties out there that want fast results.

 

[musclemom]

You can absolutely sculpt your body down to >10% bf without cardio. As long as you keep your weight training session heavy and intense and your diet as clean as possible, you will lose bodyfat. I think it is just as easy for my body to get lean with cardio as it is without, and I am an endo.

Although I definitely recommend doing some form of cardio at least twice a week for overall health..

You're painting with too broad of a brush here. You're a 20 year old male, yes, you're an endomorph, but you still have hormones and youth in your favor. Come talk to me when you're 45 and tell me how easy it is to lose weight without cardio then, okay? Honestly, I have no doubt that most men who lead a normally active life, who are under 35 can get under 10% with heavy, hard weight workouts (but that ain't no 20 minutes/three times a week shit like this book is touting, c'mon ) But a woman? Tell TSO and Sassy and Bunny and all the other competitors that they were wasting all their time doing all that cardio when all they needed to do was lift heavier and harder. Tell Shadow he's got Shorty wasting time on the treadmill every day

Most woman can't get her bodyfat down below 10% to begin with. Fat loss is compounded in difficulty for a lot of women once they have kids or break their mid 30s/40s.

Look, I'm not a trainer, I know how my body works (a little), and even 30 to 45 minutes a day on an elliptical trainer (and it doesn't even have to be all at once) makes a big difference.

 

[musclemom]

I agree, some of what this dude says is more to sell his theory and book than what is reality.
I worked out 6 days a week for 2-3 hrs to achieve all my weight loss and to reshape my fat ass.
I do walk a lot (funny, I don't think of that as cardio though), and when I was working out a lot I would do 15 mins 2 x a week on the treadmill (walking).
But MM, seriously, my abs were rocking and I really never did cardio. I could have gotten a good "cardio" work out from super setting or the high intervals, but I didn't need to run on do high intensity cardio for 45 mins a day to get it.
I really think this guy is just appealing to the lazy fatties out there that want fast results.

See but you do cardio, you walk, you're going somewhere so you don't think of it as cardio But you get those big muscles, the quads and glutes, moving and that takes energy. Bear in mind, body type, age and metabolism has a lot to do with fat loss, too.

I agree that he's pitching his book and trying to appeal to the couch potato set. I don't think people need these 1.5 hr marathon sessions of cardio unless they're training for marathons and those kinds of workouts can scare people off.

But I think for cardiovascular health, if you or your family have a history of heart/blood pressure problems, just general health, you need some cardio, ride a bike, take a walk, anything. If for no other reason cardio is what moves our lymphatic fluid the best.

 

[OMEGA]

Nelson Montana does not belive in Cardio and he does have a logical point of view

I HOWEVER believe in cardio and respectfully disagree with those who dont do it.