Many bodybuilders are confused regarding cardiovascular exercise, with some feeling that such effort is necessary to control body fat, while others preferring the idea that aerobic exercise can risk muscle mass, or prevent further muscle building. The latter group’s concern has caused many weight lifters to abandon cardiovascular exercise during muscle building periods, and even prohibit aerobic exercise when fat reduction is the primary goal, but for many, the question remains as to whether the cardiovascular exercise backlash is well founded, or if this notion is rather a part of bodybuilding mythology.
Most weight lifters realize the positive impact of aerobic activity in fat burning, but the concern mounts when considering the impact on muscle mass, and this has compelled certain weight lifters to replace their moderately intense cardiovascular workouts with power walking, feeling that this behavior is properly intense for fat burn, but beneath the threshold for muscle loss. I sometimes try to consider where exactly these ideas originate, and a group may have potentially felt so motivated by the idea of putting forth less effort (which occurs when comparing power walking to more intense forms of cardiovascular exercise), that they began promoting this rather foolish concept, or, alternatively, a collection of marketing experts may have felt that they could design a fitness system filled with propaganda, namely an easy to follow routine that will encourage readers to purchase due to incredibly effortless promises. Of course, such ideas have constantly proven themselves to be miserable failures, offering horrid results. Yet, what bodybuilder does not enjoy the thought of suppressing effort and achieving superior progress? Furthermore, do you know of any bodybuilder who would reject an excuse to abandon cardiovascular exercise completely if he or she were convinced that doing so was beneficial to muscle gains?
Yes, evil aerobics sounds very attractive to a bodybuilder who is seeking less effort, and marketing is an industry where the senses are attacked to the point of emotional investment, but the virtues taught decades ago are never replaced by clever marketing slogans, despite the effort of many physical fitness entrepreneurs. Making aerobics seem counterproductive is an effective method at encouraging a bodybuilder to invest in a specific muscle building and fat loss system, because each one of us feels a sense of attraction towards the idea of more down time producing superior progress, but this particular gimmick does not translate into results. Wherever the idea originated, marketers have capitalized on the “cardio burns muscle mass” notion to promote their own products, despite the fact that cardiovascular exercise is not only effective in burning body fat when executed correctly and consistently, but does not harm muscle building.
All weight lifters understand that a physique will deteriorate in overall aesthetic beauty as body fat levels begin to climb, and conversely, will improve substantially as body fat percentage declines. Therefore, any legitimate body fat reduction technique should be integrated at all times in order for the best possible bodybuilding results, and if cardiovascular exercise is in fact an effective fat control mechanism, then it behooves all who are seeking the best possible bodybuilding progress to implement cardiovascular exercise into their daily workout routine.
The only exception is if a bodybuilder aims primarily for muscle gain, and due to a hectic schedule or an emotional inability to accept sufficient workout time, he or she feels simply incapable of maintaining maximum intensity during weight lifting workouts when cardiovascular exercise is an additional inconvenience; in such a situation, aerobic activity can be saved for fat loss periods only, when weight lifting workout volume declines. But for those who have the wherewithal to perform consistent cardiovascular exercise, integrating aerobics throughout the week is effective, even during muscle building periods, as the less fat that is accumulated during muscle gain, the more focus can be sustained on achieving new muscle growth, and the more definition a bodybuilder will display throughout the year.
Therefore, despite the skeptics and marketing mavins who claim differing theories, cardiovascular exercise is beneficial in controlling body fat percentage, will not harm muscle mass when following an effective diet plan and weight lifting workout routine, and will improve metabolic rate so that body fat percentage can remain reasonable at all times. If you are seeking maximum bodybuilding progress, then consider aerobic exercise to be your trusted fat burning ally.
