Group: Experienced Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 50, Messages: 19484

For intermediate and advanced individuals. Share and learn how to take your fitness to the next level!

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Cardio help

Greenlee
Greenlee
Posts: 65
Joined: 2003/01/17
United States
2003/02/01, 02:02 PM
I really need to increase my cardio. Right now I work on the cross trainer about 30 minutes twice a day. I need to dramatically increase my cardio. What can I do I have about 6 weeks to increase a little. I am not exactly weak in that area, but I would like to finish my agility test without huffing and puffing.
dpking44
dpking44
Posts: 470
Joined: 2002/08/07
United States
2003/02/01, 02:08 PM
First of all, why do you need to increase your cardio? You have some specific goals in mind, etc.? 30 minutes of hard cardio a day, i.e., heartrate in the 80-85% of max range, is actually pretty good. The heart rate is the key to increasing stamina in my opinion. Get yourself a heartrate monitor and use that for training. You'll see trememdous gains in your fitness level within a few months.
Good luck.
DP
bb1fit
bb1fit
Posts: 11,105
Joined: 2001/06/30
United States
2003/02/01, 03:35 PM
Before reading DP's reply, that was exactly what I was going to say. The amount of cardio you are doing now is very good, much more and you will be tapping lean mass. Your best bet probably is to increase your cardio capabilities, rather than add more time, change your type to HIIT. This is very intense, and will have a much longer lasting effect on your metabolism(fat burning throughout the day), and your cardiovascular health as a whole.

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Failing to plan is like planning to fail!
dpking44
dpking44
Posts: 470
Joined: 2002/08/07
United States
2003/02/01, 03:40 PM
Agreed. If you're determined to do tons of cardio, be prepared to lean out, i.e., lose mass. I have a difficult time myself with balancing cardio and building mass. That would explain why I'm more defined than big. I have a difficult time putting on muscle weight. That's my choice however.
Good luck