Play Your Cardio Right

Cardio can be a great way to burn off excess fat. But it can also contain hidden dangers. Be alert for these three major risks:

Burning Lean Muscle Tissue

Too much cardio can not only burn off the excess fat that we all want to lose. When taken to extremes, particularly when you are eating fewer calories than you burn, it can also break down lean muscle tissue too.

Studies show that HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) burns more fat and less lean tissue than traditional cardio. In fact, using HIIT you can build lean muscle. It also has the advantage of taking less time. Talk to me about including a tailor-made HIIT workout as part of your transformation program.

Risk Of Sports Injuries

Overdoing the cardio can lead to greater risk of injury. Make sure you vary your routine, so that the same muscles are not being used all the time. And don’t overdo it. Unless you are training for a marathon, there is no need to spend hours on the treadmill, for example.

Burnout

The signs that you are overdoing it can be mental as well as physical. Doing the same thing day in, day out can get boring, and if you spend too much time at the gym, it can interfere with other areas of your life. Be sure to maintain a healthy gym/life balance. After all, what’s the point in losing all that weight if you also lose your friends and family?