BODY BY SCIENCE 3 ("CARDIO")

Doug McGuff, MD, explains his concept of Global Metabolic Conditioning as presented in Chapter Two of "Body By Science." In addition, he examines what cardiovascular health actually is -- as against "cardio" -- and how proper strength training is the best way to train the cardiovascular system and, indeed, all aspects of human metabolism. For more information on the science of exercise, please visit: www.bodybyscience.net

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Body By Science
• cardio
• aerobic
• anaerobic
• strength training
• HIT
• resistance exercise
• fitness
• health
• longevity.

[lazur1]

For a middle-aged, still-currently full-time physician, (plus: trainer, reseacher, consultant, gym owner & author), DM's condition's obviously excellent, apparent w/o taking his shirt off. The issue is how to gain muscle & lose fat, w/ the lowest risk of injury or compromised immunity, while spending the minimum time it takes to do so. DM doenslt claim he'll create the next Mr Olympia. A formerly-tired businessman who now has time & energy to play w/ his kids after work is a major success.

[shaw557]

The Difference is TYPE of strength Training, H.I.T is a very specific set of training pricipals very different from the moderate intensity training you find in most health clubs.

The studies done with H.I.T alone are amazing.

[ChengManChing]

@777ALS Ok, cool. But I think McG's somewhat hyberbolic point that cardio doesn't exist is very persuasive. Per McG, the only thing that really actual changes in your heart/lungs from exercise is a very slight increase in stroke volume. To my mind he's making a valuable contribution to what is basically the prevailing false consciousness about 'cardio' type exercise. Moderate cardio may be good for your health, but to improve you need to spend a huge amt. of time training.There's a better way!

[777ALS]

@ChengManChing. My point is against McGuff's argument that “cardio doesn’t even really exist”. Thanks for your reply and for acknowledging that cardio exercise develops low heart rate. I think Eric Heiden made his statement not as a specimen himself but as a doctor observing many patients. Most endurance athletes and cardio exercisers don’t develop massive musculature but have low heart rate = strong heart. Moderate cardio is good for your health

[ChengManChing]

Yes, people who do exercise that we call cardio, end up with an incredibly low heart rate. The question is why? Look at Eric Heiden's musculature. In China it's often said that "the legs are the second heart". What McGuff is arguing is that Eric Heiden made deep metabolic changes in the musc/skeletal system that had the side effect of leaving him with a low heartbeat (but did essentially nothing directly for his heart). Your point does not engage McGuff's argument at all.

[777ALS]

This video promotes misinformation. A year ago I commented here on poor research as cardio exercise related to health. Eric Heiden, M.D., a five-time Olympic gold medalist speed skater and an orthopedic surgeon described specific structural improvements to the heart achieved by regular cardio exercise in his article in LA Times Aug 25, 2010. YouTube doesn't allow URL in comments. Read it. It says ‘A strong heart muscle pumps more blood, so it requires fewer beats. And it doesn't tire as fast’

[nazdun]

Definitely and interesting perspective.

[4Loki]

Very interesting stuff, thank you for posting!

[Moagim55]

Cardio is important to health, but you do not need to do an obscene amount of cardio to gain those health benefits. Doing more than about 45 minutes of moderate cardio three times a week will cause you to lose limit strength and power.

[everso]

...However whilst i use his training and resting heart rate to make a point regarding what McGuff was saying, his resting heart rate isn't neccessarily a perfect reflection of his cardiovascular health as you would contend, because your resting heart rate doesn't always directly correlate to your cardiovascular health.

It can be affected by a number of things.

[everso]

he didn't say that cardiovascular exercise isn't important to health. he said that aerobic activity and cardiovascular ability aren't one and the same as everyone is led to believe. Cardio is wrongly used as generic term for aerobic activity.

High intensity exericse enhances cardiovascular ability more so than traditional aerobic activities.

I have a friend that lectures in exercise physiology. He strength trains intensely and does no 'cardio' yet his resting heart rate is in the mid 30's....