Big difference, right? Want to know how he got there? Read on, in this guest post from Todd Hancock, CFT at www.MODOFitness.com.
Slow-go Cardio is NOT the way to go
Do you want to lose fat and save time? Routinely, we hear from new members that losing fat and getting into shape are their two main goals. We do help them achieve these goals and in doing so we give them back 2-3 hours of time each week. That’s right, reach your goal in less time than you’d imagine and make it permanent. What would you do with 2 or 3 extra hours per week?
Have your attention yet? This post will explain why MODO Fitness trains the way we do — and why you should too.
I believe there should be a beginner’s course in every gym to educate people on the proper way to exercise and design a program that is right for them but $40 a month gets you a card to swipe at the door but not much else in most gyms. You should invest in yourself by hiring a trainer from time to time to insure you are on the right program and working safely leading to a healthier and happier fitness program. Three sets of ten with free weights is not right for everyone, nor is one hour on a treadmill or elliptical. To get in shape and stay fit, it takes a change in diet and variations in your exercise program. 6-packs are made in the kitchen. Unfortunately, over the last few years I’ve seen that in general, many people are still stuck doing long duration, low-intensity cardiovascular exercise to lose weight and get fit— yikes!
Here’s the deal: if you’re looking to achieve maximal benefit from the time you put into your workouts, long duration “slow-go” cardio is NOT the way to go, and for many reasons. Here is a list of why slow-go does not work put together by another trainer and I couldn’t agree with it more.
Top 5 reasons why slow-go cardio takes too long and people don’t see results.
1. Minimal calories burned — 45 minutes on the treadmill may burn a whopping 300 calories if you’re lucky, the equivalent of ONE TENTH of a pound of fat. Exercise ten hours a week and you might just lose a pound! An interval training session can deliver upwards of 750 calories in the same period of time.
Which brings us to the next point:
2. Way too much time involved — I don’t know about you, but I don’t have hours and hours of my time to pour into working out each week. In fact, very rarely do I ever a couple hours of exercise weekly, and you know what? That’s ALL you need. In fact, research has shown that anything more than 90 mins a week may be detrimental!
Beyond that, slow-go cardio is:
3. BORING as heck — Sitting on an exercise bike staring at the wall in front of me for 45-60 minutes? No thanks, I’ll take 40 minutes of exercise 4 days a week instead.
But perhaps even worse is the fact that slow-go cardio provides:
4. No prolonged metabolic benefit — Did you know that with higher intensity exercise it is possible to continue to burn calories for up to 48 hours post workout? It’s true. It’s often referred to as the after-burn effect. But you know what else is true? Long duration, low intensity cardio provides virtually NO prolonged elevation in metabolism. In fact, with slow-go cardio, metabolism returns to baseline almost IMMEDIATELY following the exercise session.
And finally, the reason that trumps all the others:
5. Minimal fat loss — Minimal calories burned during the session and virtually no additional calories burned afterward = minimal, if any fat loss results. And let’s be honest, the only reason anyone is doing cardio is for the “result”.
In closing if slow-go cardio isn’t a great solution, what is? Tabata and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) are the best ways to get fit, shred fat and give you a more permanent result than anything you can do. Mix it up and challenge yourself to try something new next month. We specialize in timed training and deliver results that will last for a lifetime with less time and effort. If you are stuck in a rut or ready to get fit fast, raise the intensity and lower the time of your workouts. When done correctly, you will shed fat, save time and live the healthy life you deserve to live.
If you have any questions or are interested in a 3 week trial for $47? Go to www.modofitness.com and sign up today!
Committed to your success,
Todd Hancock, CFT
MODO Fitness
404-731-3319
todd@modofitness.com
www.MODOFitness.com
Facebook.com/modofitness
Facebook.com/toddhancock
At MODO Fitness we specialize in weight-free workouts that get results fast. Ask how to get your $47 trial started. By empowering the small muscle groups you build long, lean muscles leaving your body looking more toned and fit in half the time of other types of workouts.
Tags: aerobic, calorie, cardio, exercise, fat, fitness, health, heart, high, intensity, interval, lose, loss, metabolic, metabolism, slim, Tabata, training, weight, wellness, workout
Hi again… In response to your question regarding what my main tip for helping women tune into their IntuitiveBodies.. I think a daily practice of some form of contemplative time, mediation, quiet is essential. We all have guidance and wisdom and it comes in via our Intuitive Body.. but you can’t possibly hear it if you’re always on the move, always multitasking, etc. so there needs to be a way to create sanctuary.. what I think of as sacred space in some way (I teach this to my private clients and in my book.. of course!).
Letting our brains and neural networks and our bodies have quiet time to reflect.. is one of the Daily Essentials.
Check out what my 11 Wise Women are saying about their Daily Essentials in my brand new Wise Woman Council .. a new monthly column on my website..
Thanks for the great question Jessica and love your always helpful practical guidance..
Love and blessings,
Lisa
Lisa Claudia Briggs recently posted..Launching the First Wise Woman Council ..August 1st
Love this “6-packs are made in the kitchen.” I also don’t have hours and hours to spend on exercising, and agree that high intensity interval training might be a solution.
At the same time, I know that 3 hours of walking non-stop give me personally excellent results, the only thing is that I can’t find free three hours per week on regular basis.
I think it’s always worth trying any new system to see whether it fits you.
Inga Deksne recently posted..If you can’t change the situation, change the attitude towards it
High intensity is DEFINITELY the way to go! I exercise for 15-30 minutes every other day (in addition to some longer walks with the dog, and yoga a few times a week) and I’m in better shape than most people I know, barring the hardcore runners (that do several hours a week, like 5-10). Nothing like getting good results for less time!
Michelle recently posted..Review: Paprika
Ah, the love-hate relationship with intervals! Very funny, Lisa! It’s great that you’re into mixing it up, and you realize that exercise isn’t always about burning fat. Sometimes it just feels good to move — in whatever way works for you at the moment. It makes perfect sense that you’d be in tune with this, given your Intuitive Body work. What’s your #1 tip for helping others tune in as well?
Thanks for always up to date info Jessica.. I was lucky to learn about intervals ages ago and even though I hate them they are effective.. I still love my long outdoor walks though for the pleasure and the total decompression.. dont’ know why anyone would get on a treadmill when they could be outside other than really bad weather..
Love to you,
Lisa
Lisa Claudia Briggs recently posted..Launching the First Wise Woman Council ..August 1st
Julie, I’m so happy to hear about your transformation! Keep going!
Yeah, Leah — I think this is part of it. There’s also a whole Crossfit sort of subculture that keeps people engaged as well. Have you tried it?
Yay, Bri! I’m so excited for you that you’re seeing good progress! I loooooooove a nice quick-flow Vinyasa!
Ha! I like that, Meg. As the post author, Todd, says — there are always those people in the gym who look the EXACT same year after year. They’re in the gym regularly every week, but making zero progress, and I think this slow-go idea may be the reason. Thanks for your comment!
I just learned this little secret last year and I was a die-hard exercise an hour EVERY day for years and years!!! Now I exercise 15 min a day and feel better and look great. Thanks for the information so now when people ask me what’s wrong with slow-go-cardio I know what to say!
Julie Geigle recently posted..Third Times the Charm – Peace is Possible
This is why I’ve always loved dance classes, stretch, core, and ebb peak cardio. I also remember years ago the first gym I was a member of I got a tour/session to start and the guy said to me “look at the people on the treadmill vs. pretty much every other cardio machine that’s where you will find the heaviest people, b/c it doesn’t work’
Meg recently posted..Belief trumps Certainty
Love and appreciate the brutal honesty. I, too, don’t want to spend tons of time at the club. I’d rather have a 15-20 minute, high intense/challenging workout than a longer time on equipment.
Who needs boring? I’m all for the challenge.
Marita Rahlenbeck recently posted..Music And Its Magic
This is really true Jessica as I can attest. As you know from other comments on this blog I have been working to lose post pregnancy weight-it finally started to melt off–when I went to a fast paced flow vinyasa yoga class–lots of cardio and no slowness!
Bri Saussy recently posted..Charms & Enchantments A Lammas Divination technique & What it Really Takes to Get What You Want
This might explain why the Crossfit is such a big thing up here right now. It makes perfect sense to me.
Leah Shapiro recently posted..Liberation or Fear
Hey Teresa – isn’t it amazing what intervals can do? Bonus: they’re not just great for fat loss, but also (particularly Tabata training) for aerobic capacity! Thanks for your comments! Keep going!! <3
My best fat loss ever was with high-intensity mountain biking and a regular kick-boxing class. It was really obvious that these pretty quick, really intense workouts did way more than anything else. And all of those points are about slow cardio are totally true.
Hugs and butterflies,
~Teresa~
Teresa recently posted..Revealed: The Empress