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Article: Why You Should Do Steady State Cardio

You should, you shouldn't, you should, you shouldn't...meh. Who really cares anymore? We get it.
 
Next in the series... 'Why You Should Eat Trans Fats', followed by 'Why You Should Keep a Loaded Gun Under Your Pillow', and an Xmas special 'Why Your Children Should Play in the Freeway.'
 
Steady state cardio raises your cortisol right? Which causes fat gain. So why do any at all. Just diet and strength train.
 
What a horrible article. Steady state cardio has a place, but only if you are training and require steady state cardio for your end result.
 
Ronnie Coleman did an hour of steady state cardio every night. Guess he was wrong to do that, at least according to popular opinion on AM. There are lots of reasons to do cardio. Remember that old fashioned idea people used to call 'fitness'?
 
compudog said:
Ronnie Coleman did an hour of steady state cardio every night. Guess he was wrong to do that, at least according to popular opinion on AM. There are lots of reasons to do cardio. Remember that old fashioned idea people used to call 'fitness'?
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You can't use someone who's on vast quantities of juice as a good example of anything. You believe you can't get fit lifting weights? Running is a separate discipline unto itself... if you're training for long distance or with specific goals in mind (triathlons, tough mudder etc), or simply because you enjoy it, fair enough, go nuts, otherwise, no reason you must do it.
 
Johnston said:
You can't use someone who's on vast quantities of juice as a good example of anything. You believe you can't get fit lifting weights? Running is a separate discipline unto itself... if you're training for long distance or with specific goals in mind (triathlons, tough mudder etc), or simply because you enjoy it, fair enough, go nuts, otherwise, no reason you must do it.
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Running isn't the only way to do cardio, thank goodness because after 25 years of being a runner I had enough. I'm a mountaineer so basic cardio fitness is critical to me, mountaineering is not easy, sometimes more demanding than triathalons etc IMO (ever hear of a 24 hour triathalon? I've spent that much time on a route), although I have to give those guys props. In any case there's no way I could keep up in the mountains without some kind of cardio training. I'm talking lung busting sweat fests. Heavy lifting won't make it and yes I do that too. I bench 300, deadlift 400+ and squat nearly 400 as well. I lift 4 days a week so I think I have enough experience on both sides of the fence to know what I'm talking about.
 
compudog said:
Running isn't the only way to do cardio, thank goodness because after 25 years of being a runner I had enough. I'm a mountaineer so basic cardio fitness is critical to me, mountaineering is not easy, sometimes more demanding than triathalons etc IMO (ever hear of a 24 hour triathalon? I've spent that much time on a route), although I have to give those guys props. In any case there's no way I could keep up in the mountains without some kind of cardio training. I'm talking lung busting sweat fests. Heavy lifting won't make it and yes I do that too. I bench 300, deadlift 400+ and squat nearly 400 as well. I lift 4 days a week so I think I have enough experience on both sides of the fence to know what I'm talking about.
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Well you're talking about different things there. Even the word 'fitness' means different things to different people. Yes, if you're mountaineering or embarking on any similar tough endurance activity, weight lifting alone won't cut it. This is all aside from the article though, which isn't talking about this kind of endurance... and it would be silly if it did, as a bit of light steady state cardio a few times a week is hardly going to prepare you for a mountaineering expedition!
 
compudog said:
You're kidding right? Have you ever actually climbed a mountain? Or do you just call yourself that for kicks.
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I LIVE on a mountain, hence the screen name there angry fellow.....
 
Johnston said:
Well you're talking about different things there. Even the word 'fitness' means different things to different people. Yes, if you're mountaineering or embarking on any similar tough endurance activity, weight lifting alone won't cut it. This is all aside from the article though, which isn't talking about this kind of endurance... and it would be silly if it did, as a bit of light steady state cardio a few times a week is hardly going to prepare you for a mountaineering expedition!
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Bingo. I don't think anyone is saying don't do cardio, it is just that steady state is not right for everyone and not ideal. Most of the activities I do rely on strong cardio- rugby, fast hiking 14ers, muay thai, and the random endurance event I enter a couple times a summer. I work better with HIIT and tailor my weight lifting routine to match. Like compudog, I have a combined big 3 of 1150, so it is possible to lift big and still work necessary cardio in.
 
HIIT is great for losing fat. So is steady state. It's apples to apples when it comes to losing fat. One takes longer and recovery is faster, one is faster and requires more of a recovery period. HIIT is great, but also requires someone to be in fairly decent shape to begin with or else they won't stick with it. Steady state works and is easy to stick with. I'll tell you this from experience, if you're calorie depleted after months of dieting, HIIT is not top on the priority list. Personally, HIIT for me is done when I'm not prepping for a contest. It's a super effective way for me to manage calories when my diet isn't so strict. But come contest time, this would burn me out way too fast.
 
Oh, and how about that bonehead who preaches IF'ing for muscle gain and fat loss? He believes in zero-state cardio. I bet if we forced him to pick one though, it would be steady state due to it's purported muscle sparring properties.
 
12345 said:
Yeah OK. People don't become lean doing cardio this way, only fatter. -_______-
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You are wrong. Cardio is not necessary for being lean. You can stay lean, ripped even without cardio. As far a "total" fitness example, cardio definitely has it's role .
 
jun1e8ugs said:
You are wrong. Cardio is not necessary for being lean. You can stay lean, ripped even without cardio. As far a "total" fitness example, cardio definitely has it's role .
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I agree. All you need is heavy compound lifts and to be in a calorie deficit.
 
jun1e8ugs said:
Oh, and how about that bonehead who preaches IF'ing for muscle gain and fat loss? He believes in zero-state cardio. I bet if we forced him to pick one though, it would be steady state due to it's purported muscle sparring properties.
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Who is that? If you're talking about Lean Gains and Berkhan, that's not true. He actually advocates going for walks etc. on your rest days.

Besides, I defy anyone who engages in a suitably intense and high volume weight training regime over a period of time not to see an increase in their physical endurance when it comes to cardio activities, should they take them up afterwards. I don't know why people seem to think they're mutually exclusive. I'm not talking about running a marathon or climbing Everest, just general fitness.
 
Johnston said:
Who is that? If you're talking about Lean Gains and Berkhan, that's not true. He actually advocates going for walks etc. on your rest days.
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Wow he's changed his outlook. I haven't seen what he's been putting out there as of recent, but last that I read his general though was "if you absolutely must must do cardio, do light walks on off days." He is for sure against using cardio for fat burning purposes and I would go so far as to say he believes that it is very catabolic while in calorie deficit.

But I don't really think MB is a bonehead, I just like to say stuff to get his worshipers razzed. Honestly, I'm not that impressed by the guy. I have been just as ripped, with more muscle using the methods of 90's.

I'm not one way or another on anything, I really try not to follow any extremes. Bodybuilding is already extreme enough in its own form.

I love the HIIT that a get from XC mountain biking, but I do notice that summers where I do a lot of it, my muscles seem more flat.
 
jun1e8ugs said:
He is for sure against using cardio for fat burning purposes...
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Because it simply isn't necessary in order to achieve fat loss. LG/IF isn't the only approach of course, but it's a perfectly valid one that works for many people. Different strokes for different folks.
 
jun1e8ugs said:
You are wrong. Cardio is not necessary for being lean. You can stay lean, ripped even without cardio. As far a "total" fitness example, cardio definitely has it's role .
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You need to read what you're quoting first. Never said cardio is necessary for being lean. But it sure helps because people aren't perfect dieters and we get lazy with our workouts from time to time. And I was quoting a knucklehead who said cardio raises cortisol and leads to fat gain. Well guess what? Lifting weights also raises cortisol. As does any aerobic or anaerobic exercise. That doesn't necessarily mean you will gain fat though. And it certainly wouldn't out weight the calorie expenditure from the cardio. It's not ideal to have cortisol levels too high for too long, but they inevitably elevate, so we do what we can to mitigate it. Gawwwwlll!!!
 
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