Aerobic Exercise - The ONLY 2 Times You Should Do It

Aerobics (long, steady state sub-maximal cardio) aren’t smashing for various health or fat loss related benefits. I’ve already done a post on why aerobic’s inefficient for fat loss. In addition, I look into the health benefits of interval training against steady-state aerobics in my interval training for fat loss article.

Though I should admit aerobic exercise has its place. It can be a beneficial tool in getting rid of stubborn body fat in the areas males get it most (the abs) and females (butt, hips and thighs) But only if you do it on one of these two occasions (and I’ll explain why as well!):

Time #1 You Should Do Aerobics: After Interval Training

To start with, let’s look at what intervals and aerobics do in your body

Steady state target heart rate cardio (aerobics). Uses fat for energy, but the problem is it takes a long time to exercise for the body to start using fat as fuel for this type of cardio.

High intensity interval training. Burns glycogen and releases fatty acids into the blood stream, but it doesn’t use those fatty acids for energy, which means they get redeposited into the fat cells.

Here’s how you get the both of best worlds:

1. Execute your 12 minutes or less of interval training

2. Hang about 5 minutes

3. Execute 20 (max 30) minutes of steady state cardio (aerobics)

When you execute it this way, the HIIT followed by 5 minutes rest guarantees a large release of fatty acids into the blood stream, which means you’re assured to be burning fat as energy when you do your aerobics! Neat huh?

Time Number 2 You Must Do Aerobics: Once you’re done lifting weights

Extreme weight lifting is completely like High Intensity Interval Training in the effects that it has on your body, the fuel it uses, and so on. So the only other time you should do aerobic cardio is after your weight lifting.

I recommend 20-30 mins of low-medium intensity steady state cardio after weight lifting.

Why You Should Know This

CNS overload: If you’re lifting intensly, focusing on strength, doing low reps with heavy weights 3x per week, you’re working your central nervous system to increase your strength (primarily). Interval training on your “off” days may be overload for some people, steady state aerobics after weights is a good option if that’s you.

Stubborn fat: If you’re about 10-12% body fat (men) or 15-17% body fat (women) by this time and you need to get SUPER ripped, then you have to make use of the HIIT followed with aerobics in this case. It will help unload those last stubborn pounds.