From the ABC News 20/20 report, Is Cardio-Free the Way To Be? come points of view for and against cardio exercise:
One point of view:
"Cardiovascular exercise kills a weight-loss plan, your internal organs, your immune system, your time and your motivation. If your true goal is to lose weight, interval strength training is the only way to go," says Karas, an ABC News correspondent, celebrity trainer and fitness expert.
Another view:
Exercise physiologist Richard Weil is not convinced. "I'm flabbergasted, I'm astonished at what I'm reading. I genuinely believe he's deluding people and he's leading them to believe information that is really not factual. I believe that the book is dangerous."
With all the conflicting opinions what is one to do? The fitness expert in the this 20/20 report said cardio kills, while another nationally known fitness expert said one should do 90 minutes of exercise a day to lose weight and then 60 minutes of exercise once that weight is lost. How about a simple plan that takes the middle road with one important consideration? The number one consideration ought to be to embark on a program you are willing to follow.
A “followable” plan I discussed in a previous post:
One: Start a strength training program that will take as little as 30 minutes a week. You will have a higher resting metabolism 24/7/365. No exercise burns more calories total, calories during and calories spent after the workout than high intensity personal training. The personal training sessions At Kelly Personal Training in Austin and at Ultimate Fitness in New Orleans are high intensity personal training sessions designed to produce the most impact in the least amount of time exercising.
Second: engage in regular activities that you more likely to stick to – activities you enjoy –swimming, walking, whatever floats your boat. I walk my dog every day usually more than once a day.
Third: Follow a sensible eating plan that you can live with forever. I eat several small meals a day and never go more than four hours without eating. I eat fruit and vegetables five or six times a day religiously. I avoid sugar, starches, alcohol and fried foods. End of story, that is what I can live with forever. The eating plan one can live with will be particular to the individual.
I have lost 20 pounds. I am the lightest I have been in 20 years. My cardiologist said the results of my blood tests were as good as they get. He described the results as “off the charts”. He told me to keep doing whatever I was doing.
The above three steps make up a simple plan than anyone can stick to. It does not require several hours in the gym, so it is not likely to become drudgery or injury producing. A year from now there is a good chance you will still be sticking to it. When you do you will feel better, look better and be dramatically healthier.
