Best Ways to Do Cardio for Bodybuilders
Cardio, one of the most underrated aspects of any bodybuilder and one of the most important at the same time. Here I am going to break down my 3 favorite types of cardio to do and things that you can implement into your own program if you are looking to progress your physique to a new level. Now I do not care if you are trying to bulk or cut, YOU NEED TO BE DOING CARDIO ON A REGULAR BASIS PERIOD!!!!!!!! This is a non negotiable and if you are serious about your health and physique, need to take this element as serious as you do your diet and training. Not only will regular cardio help keep you leaner on a bulk (or lose bodyfat) on a cut, it will enhance your ability to build muscle due to the oxygenation effects and increased capacity to train harder and longer with the weights. Below are my 3 favorite types of cardio.
1. Outdoor Walking!!!
There is nothing like getting outside and doing a long walk outdoors. Not only is this beneficial for your mental and emotional health, but getting out in the elements, especially when it is hot or cold, has the ability to make you more mentally strong and that directly translates to pushing past your limits in the gym. For me I like to go about 1 hour to 1.5 hours at a fairly brisk pace. This will not eat up muscle trust me and will only benefit you in the long run. I know and hour is a little long, but remember this is low intensity and for me I just enjoy doing it. There is no better feeling than getting outside and feeling the fresh air!!!
2. Incline Treadmill Walk
See a common theme here with walking!!! It is low impact, easy to do and can be very beneficial for overall recovery from the intense weight training needed to make long term progress in the gym. I would recommend setting the treadmill at a 11/12 percent incline and walk at a speed of around 3.0 mph. This will get your heart rate up a bit, but will not be overkill and should be enough to get a light sweat going!!! One key here is DO NOT hold onto the rails!!!! Allow your arms to naturally swing and just walk with your natural rhythm. 25-30 minutes is a good place to start and as you get deeper and deeper in a diet phase, 45 minutes should do just fine here.
3. Stairmaster
Last but not least we have one that will most certainly get your heart rate up a bit more and something I would recommend only doing a few times a week. I would keep the starimaster at a level 6-8, which is slow enough to not be gasping for air, but hard enough to be out of breath and breaking a decent sweat!! The key to cardio is get a bit out of breath and break a fucking sweat!!! If you are doing cardio you need to sweat!!!! I would recommend 20 or so minutes a few times a week here, and alternate those with the other 2 forms of cardio mentioned above to keep things fun and your body fresh!!
Here you have it, 3 forms of cardio that I would recommend if you are serious about your health and physique!!! Train Hard!!!
BEYOND JUST BODYBUILDING!!!!