Fat Loss Theory: Running and Aerobics (Part 2)

Contrary to popular belief, running (or any type of steady state cardio or aerobic exercise, for that matter) is not at all necessary when it comes to fat loss. In fact, I would go as far as to say that aerobic exercise is just about as far down the usefulness totem pole as it gets when it comes to fat loss. Of course, the reason for this has already been covered in Part 1 of this series. When it comes to absolute intensity, the main determinant of how effective an exercise program will be for fat loss, aerobic exercise simply cannot keep up with other methods.

However, aerobic exercise isn't necessarily terrible either. The real problem, outside of a small absolute intensity (by definition), is with limiting factors.

I'm taking my talents to Elizabethtown.

Sorry for the delay between posts, but I have been busy preparing to move to Elizabethtown, Kentucky to work for Pat Rigsby and Nick Berry over at Fitness Consulting Group. I'm going to have a big role in shaping the growth and development of two franchises, Athletic Revolution (youth fitness)and Fitness Revolution. That, and I'm sure I'll be doing a bunch of other stuff that has yet to be determined.

If I don't get to Part 2 of my aerobics series this week, I'll get to it next week... so be sure to catch up on Part 1 if you haven't done so already.

Fat Loss Theory: Running and Aerobics (Part 1)

Part 2

It is a widespread belief that aerobic exercise, such as running, is necessary for fat loss. This all got started shortly after Dr. Kenneth Cooper's book Aerobics was published in 1968.

For some reason, aerobic exercise became a widespread phenomenon in the 1970s... and unlike other trends and fads, aerobics had staying power. Interestingly enough, the 1970s was also the time that bodybuilding went mainstream (thank you Arnold).

I could rant about how these two styles of training ruined fitness for decades (and will continue to do so)... however, I will instead take the objective road. Since I've already written about bodybuilding splits not being conducive to fat loss, this series of posts will analyze running/aerobics and their effectiveness as a fat loss tool.

Spinal Stability Reference: Core Training

I just read an article called "21st Century Core Training." It was written on the T-nation website by Mike Robertson... who, by the way, is awesome.

Anyway, I highly suggest checking out that article, especially if you are already familiar with the concept of core stability and the true role of the abdominals. If you don't know what I'm talking about, please refer first to my posts on low back pain... that is, if you haven't done so already.

Low Back Pain: Injury Limits to Fat Loss
Part 1
Part 2

If you don't care to read Mike's core article, you are missing out... but here is my short summary of it...

Fasted Cardio (Part 3): The LAZY Man's Dieting Gimmick

Part 1
Part 2

This is the finale to the 3 part fasted cardio series. In Part 1, I introduced us to the concept of fasted cardio for selective fat loss. In Part 2, I compared the effectiveness of fasted cardio as a fat loss tool to the new paradigm from The Theory of Fat Loss: A New Paradigm for Exercise and reached the conclusion that it may be a useful tool... but only as an adjunct to training assuming that it doesn't interfere with recovery from a person's primary training program.

Interestingly, Eric Cressey just wrote an article about the problems associated with "adding" to weight training programs, and he hit on a great point about it. I suggest checking it out here.

But anyway... in this post I will simply reveal to you that fasted cardio is nothing more than an overblown and overpracticed manipulation of your DIET and not really anything special.