Why Slow, Traditional Cardio Is NOT Dead
What’s better for YOU – slow traditional cardio, or high intensity training such as high intensity interval training?
The answer really isn’t as clear cut as most people make it seem in my opinion. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me but from the studies I’ve read about high intensity training, I don’t think it’s the “miracle” most people make it out to be.
**Disclaimer: I’m NOT saying I don’t think it’s awesome. I do HIIT for about 90% of my workouts, but I’ll get to my reasoning in a minute**
On this subject there seems to be 2 major groups.
Group A: The Slow Cardio Group – This tends to be old-school bodybuilders who think the way they’ve been doing it for so long is the ONLY way to do it. They think high intensity training is useless and some even think it over-trains your body.
Group B: The High Intensity Group – These people think high intensity is the ONLY way to go. They think traditional slow cardio is useless and doesn’t burn nearly as many calories as people think it does. They think there are almost no benefits to it and that everybody should be doing high intensity instead.
So who’s right?
In my opinion….neither.
When it comes to fitness, there is no “one size fits all”. While I tend to do high intensity much more than low intensity, it’s not because I think I’m burning extra calories.
So why do I do it?
Because it’s more fun!
This might sound a little distorted, but I love the feeling of kind of hanging on my last ounce of energy to push through my last few exercises. I love feeling like my muscles are on fire and having them quiver at the end of a really hard workout – hardly allowing me to walk up the steps.
But obviously, most people aren’t crazy like I am. Most people are “normal” and don’t like those kinds of feelings. And for mid-old aged people (i.e. anybody over 40 – even though you’re really not old so don’t think you are) I think a lot of times doing the majority of your workouts in a slower fashion is better.
Now this isn’t to say you should never do high intensity. I think if you’re able to (e.g. if you don’t have any heart problems), you should. Your body needs to feel alive again.
The reason I say this is because as the “cycle of life” goes further down the path for you, I think the natural course of exercising leads you into moving from hardcore workouts into more internal or “softer” workouts.
This means going from sprints to walking, jogging slowly and doing internal martial arts like tai-chi.
Where I’m Going With All This
I think the main problem people have is that they that everything has to be done a certain way. Well, it doesn’t! Do what YOU like to do. I don’t care what other people are saying. If you’re doing something that works, keep doing it. Obviously if it’s not doing anything to help your goals you should switch it, but if you’re getting results than simply keep going with it.
And if that means doing slow cardio….then by all means go ahead.
Because in my opinion, the main difference between low and high intensity exercising is simply a matter of time. You can get roughly the same workout in 20 minutes as you could in 40-45 minutes by doing really high intensity work, but if you have extra time that day and don’t mind spending it working out – who cares?
It all comes back to doing what you like to do, and what’s going to keep you doing that for a long period of time.
Bottom Line: Forget about how many extra calories high intensity interval training burns. If you hate doing it, don’t do it. Because eventually you’ll burn yourself out and quit – so what’s the point? Do what you love to do and you’ll stick with exercising for a lot longer.
Do you agree with this post? Leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
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