Fit and Youthful Life

Guest Author: Eddie Lomax


ost people think of cardio workouts, they think of some type of boring, steady state exercise like biking, rowing or running. And more often than not, they think they need some kind of expensive equipment like an exercise bike, rower or treadmill to get a good heart and lung workout. But, as you are about to see, all you need is your own body and a bodyweight interval training program.

First of all, I don’t like the term “cardio”. I like to think of this type of training as Energy System training. By this I mean improving the way your body uses the nutrients to fuel your strenuous physical activity. Since this process relies mostly on the heart and lungs that is what most people focus on.

But the fact is, an activity that gets your heart pumping and increases your breathing rate is a “cardio” exercise. So, doing bodyweight intervals at a fast pace is also a “cardio” workout when done properly. I would like to stress than doing bodyweight intervals made up of a wide variety of bodyweight exercises is better for improving the heart and lugs, eliminating ugly fat and building a muscular body.

What Is Bodyweight Interval Training?

One way to perform this type of workout is to pick 3-4 bodyweight only exercises and perform 10 reps of each exercise back to back as a circuit. Don’t take any breaks between exercises. Keep going for a specific period of time… say 10-15 minutes. Sounds simple, right?

Here is what is going on. You should pick the bodyweight exercises so that your entire body is stressed. So, an upper body exercise, lower body and core. As you go through the workout, your entire body comes into play (instead or just your legs like running or biking).

While you are doing this full body bodyweight interval training workout, your heart and lungs are going to start working hard. The muscles all over your body start screaming for nutrients, and your lungs need more oxygen and your heart needs to deliver this oxygen and other nutrients. The entire energy system is taxed… and that is what has to happen for improvements to be made.

I think you’ll find, as I have, that bodyweight interval training is better at increasing endurance for activities done in the real world. Your body makes specific changes according to the specific demand placed upon it. So when you run, you get better at running. Unfortunately, when you do other activities you’ll find you are ill prepared. Using a series of bodyweight exercises trains not only every muscle in your body… but your heart and lungs as well.

Instead of your next boring cardio session, try bodyweight interval training instead. It will not only be more fun, but more effective at helping you increase heart and lung power, burn fat and build an attractive body. Bu be forewarned, you are not going to be able to watch TV or read a magazine while doing this workout!

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