Can A Weight Lifter Burn Muscle Mass With Aerobic Activity?

A large number of bodybuilders are confused regarding aerobic activity, with some believing that such effort is necessary in controlling body fat, while others embracing the idea that aerobic exercise will in effect either risk muscle mass, or limit future muscle building. The latter group's concern has caused many weight lifters to avoid cardiovascular activity during muscle building periods, and even shy away from aerobic exercise when fat loss is the main goal, but for many, the question remains as to whether the cardiovascular activity concern is well founded, or if this notion is instead a part of bodybuilding mythology.

Most weight lifters realize the value of aerobic activity in fat loss, but the worry mounts when considering the effect on muscle mass, and this has forced certain weight lifters to replace moderately intense cardiovascular sessions with power walking, believing that this behavior is sufficiently intense to burn fat, but beneath the threshold for muscle loss. I occasionally try to determine precisely where these notions originate, and a group may have potentially felt so motivated by the idea of putting forth less effort (which is the case when comparing walking to more intense forms of cardiovascular exercise), that they began promoting this rather foolish proposition, or, alternatively, a group of marketers may have decided to design a particular physical fitness plan filled with attractive information, namely an easy to follow routine that will convince readers to purchase due to the magnificent effortless promises. Of course, such routines have repeatedly proven themselves to be abysmal failures, offering terrible results. Yet, what bodybuilder does not enjoy the thought of reducing effort and achieving superior progress? Furthermore, do you know of any bodybuilder who would reject an excuse to abandon cardiovascular exercise completely if he or she were convinced that doing so was helpful to muscle gains?

Yes, evil aerobics sounds like a very attractive proposition to a bodybuilder who is seeking less effort, and advertising is an industry where the senses are tickled to the point of emotional investment, but the wisdom taught decades ago are never replaced by clever advertising slogans, despite the effort of many exercise entrepreneurs. The truth is, making aerobics seem counterproductive is an excellent method at convincing a bodybuilder to purchase a specific muscle building and fat loss program, because every one of us feels a sense of attraction towards the idea of more down time producing superior progress, but this particular gimmick does not translate into results. Wherever the idea originated, advertisers have capitalized on the "aerobics burns muscle" notion to promote their own products, despite the fact that cardiovascular activity is not only effective in eliminating body fat when executed consistently and correctly, but does not harm muscle gain.

All weight lifters understand that a physique will deteriorate in overall impressiveness as body fat levels begin to increase, and conversely, will extraordinarily improve as body fat percentage declines. Therefore, any legitimate body fat reduction technique should be integrated at all times in order for the most dramatic bodybuilding results, and if cardiovascular activity is in fact a potent fat control method, then it behooves all who pursue the best possible bodybuilding results to implement cardiovascular activity into their daily workout strategy.

The only exception to this rule is if a bodybuilder aims primarily for muscle gain, and due to time constraints or an emotional inability to budget additional training time, he or she feels simply unable to sustain maximum intensity during weight training workouts when cardiovascular activity is an added burden; in such a scenario, aerobic activity can be reserved for fat loss periods only, when weight training workout volume decreases. But for those who have the wherewithal to perform consistent cardiovascular activity, implementing aerobics throughout the week is prudent, even during muscle building phases, as the less body fat that is produced during muscle gain, the more focus can be sustained on achieving new muscle growth, and the greater definition a bodybuilder will display throughout the year.

Therefore, despite the skeptics and advertising mavins who claim otherwise, cardiovascular activity is helpful in controlling body fat percentage, will not risk muscle when following a potent diet regimen and weight training workout system, and will enhance metabolic rate so that body fat percentage can remain acceptable at all times. If you are seeking maximum bodybuilding progress, then consider aerobics to be your trusty fat burning companion.