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

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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?