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Aerobic Cross Training for
Weight Loss
Do you sometimes get bored with your aerobic exercise?
Do You sometimes feel like you're not getting the
results you should from your aerobic exercise? If so,
then aerobic cross-training is for you.
Aerobic cross-training refers to using two to three
different types of aerobic exercise during an exercise
session. For example, if you plan to exercise for 60
minutes, you might start with 20 minutes of walking or
jogging, followed by 20 minutes of biking, and finish
with 20 minutes of rowing.
Now, please don't get the impression that you have to be
in great shape to do this or that it has to be 60
minutes long. You can start with something as simple as
a ten minute walk followed by ten minutes with an
exercise video. This is cross-training too. You can
gradually build up from there.
Here are some of the exercises you can use in your
cross-training program; walking, jogging, biking,
rowing, stair climbing, swimming, exercise videos, etc.
Any combination of aerobic exercises will do. You simply
go from one to the next with very little time between
them.
Aerobic cross-training is beneficial to you in several
ways:
1. It provides variety which eliminates the monotony
often associated with doing the same exercise for a long
period of time.
2. If your exercise sessions are less monotonous and
more enjoyable, you are much more likely to exercise
more often and for longer periods of time.
3. You are less prone to over-use injuries that
sometimes occur from doing the same exercise movements
over and over again.
4. You tone more muscles because you are using more
muscles. For example, walking tones mostly the lower
body muscles and rowing tones upper body muscles also.
Even exercises like walking and biking that both tone
lower body muscles, tone them at different angles and
each tones some small muscles that the other doesn't.
5. Aerobic conditioning is very specific to the muscles
being worked. For example, you can walk ten miles a day
and still be somewhat breathless after climbing stairs
because you haven't trained the muscles for that
specific movement. Aerobic cross-training allows you to
develop more comprehensive aerobic training.
6. Aerobic cross-training is effective for weight loss
because your are toning and training the fat-burning
systems of more of your muscles. It turns more of your
muscles into 24-hour fat-burning machines! You are also
more likely to exercise on a regular basis and for
longer periods of time. this also promotes weight loss
and fitness.
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