Ditch Cardio, Start Conditioning

One could keep you slow and sluggish– the other will burn fat and crank up your engine. Here’s how to make the switch

SO WHAT’S WRONG WITH TRADITIONAL CARDIO?

“It isn’t the most efficient way of training,” says trainer Stephen Taylor (getbodyconfident.com). “If you enjoy it and have time, fine – but you won’t build muscle from it. Muscle is hard to build as it is, and endless running or workouts on the cross-trainer won’t help this situation.” There’s also evidence that long, slow cardio workouts will increase your body’s production of cortisol, giving you more of a propensity to store belly fat.

SO WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE? 

“If you’re a busy man, you want the best results in minimal time. For this, conditioning is the game-changer,” says Taylor. “Conditioning is cardio, but not as you know it. It’s a hybrid of both strength and cardio training that requires you to work out at a high intensity for shorter periods of time. It’ll give you far more bang for your buck when you’re looking to build a lean, athletic physique, but it’s also a fast way of firing up your metabolism – and relieving stress, rather than worsening it.”

I’M SOLD. HOW DO I DO IT?