Tag: Cardio

Resources by Conor HeffernanJul 15, 20203:15 pm

The History of the Assault Bike

Assault bikes are, for want of a better phrase, awful. Just awful. I remember how excited I was when my gym first got an old air bike. I hopped on, busted a gut for 2 minutes and then jumped off, vowing never again to use such a horrid machine. Funnily most people I chat to have a similar story to tell.

Now there are a few people I train with who claim to love the assault bike. Such an admission proves that there are indeed sociopaths present in all walks of life …

More seriously, the assault bike is now one of the more popular cardio machines. Used by Crossfitters, professional athletes and the average gym goer, the assault bike has grown in popularity over the past decade and a half.

Today’s post looks at the history of the air bike which, I was surprised to learn, is far longer than I gave it credit for. We’ll examine its origins, original markets and, of course, its rapid rise in usage.

Resources by Conor HeffernanApr 8, 202010:02 pm

The History of the Assault Bike

Now there are a few people I train with who claim to love the assault bike. Such an admission proves that there are indeed sociopaths present in all walks of life …

Resources by Conor HeffernanAug 27, 20181:49 pm

The Birth of Tabata Training

Training while travelling has always been a pain for me. While I try my best to find hotels close to gyms or with some adequate facilities, chances are I’ll get caught out every once and a while. Though not boasting the largest lifting numbers, certainly much lower than much of the site’s readership, there are times when even I’m confronted with weights too light for a decent workout. This has been the case at several points this summer when travel to remote locations has brought me into the domain of cheap, ill equipped and frankly strange hotel gyms. On the latter point, one gym boasted solely lime green dumbbells weighing no more than 25 pounds. That such devices ever seemed like a great idea is…quite frankly…mind boggling.

Once my panic attacks/anger passes, I get to work as best I can and in this regard tabata training, especially when it comes to training with a short amount of time, has been a godsend. For those unaware, Tabata training is a relatively straightforward concept. Exercise for twenty seconds at a high intensity, rest for ten seconds and then repeat for 8 rounds. While the initial research concerned itself primarily with cardiovascular forms of training such as bike riding, subsequent proponents have used Tabata style training for a range of bodyweight and free weight systems. So in today’s post we’re going to examine the history of Tabata training. Who invented it? How did it become so popular and how can it best be used in the average gym.

Training by Conor HeffernanJul 28, 20177:19 am

Guest Post: Cardio Exercise and its History in Health and Fitness

Cardio is a form of exercise that results in an increased heart rate as well as improved muscular functioning which ultimately leads to general body fitness. Cardio as a form of physical exercise, involves engagement of larger body muscles, often referred to as gross motor activities. Apart from raising the heart rate during exercise, cardio exercise also enables our muscles to maintain a good shape and condition. This results in a more healthy and efficient functioning body, while helping us to achieve the primary goal of cardio exercise, which is a stronger cardio vascular system that is characterized with more capillaries carrying more oxygen to the muscular cells. Increased oxygen supply in turn allows your body to break down more fat during exercise as well as during resting period.

Low intensity exercise rates for an elongated period of time enables you to participate in the cardio form of exercise. For instance, engaging your body in rhythmic exercises for more than 15 minutes while maintaining 60 to 80% of your maximum heart rate is an ideal way of taking part in cardio exercise. This leads to a number of health and fitness benefits such as increased stamina, control of body weight and other benefits related to psychological and mental functioning of the body including reduced anxiety and enhanced moods.

Resources by Conor HeffernanJul 27, 20177:38 am

Is Cardio Necessary?

Pexels

It’s a question many hardcore gym goers will ask themselves from time to time, is cardio necessary? A lot of people view cardio as the antithesis of gaining strength and taking valuable time away from compound exercises that will do more for your physique and strength than any half hour session on the treadmill would be capable of. While a lot of people have heard that abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym, there are lots of bodybuilders that take part in mild bouts of cardio just to get a couple of percentage points down on their overall body fat. Is it something that we need as part of our overall workout routine?

Resources by Conor HeffernanJun 26, 201710:01 am

Guest Post: The Summer Beckons: Time to Take your Cardio Routines Outside

Our latest post comes from the wonderful and talented Samantha Olivier from Ripped.me. We’re delighted to have Samantha featured on the site again and know you’ll enjoy her latest piece.

Aerobic activity is essential for the health of the body and mind. Take the example of cardio, which improves your mood, reduces body fat and cholesterol levels, and enhances heart and lung functions. People seem to lose sight of these benefits or downplay their importance. Even those who are active are unable to distinguish between what really does the trick and all the modern gimmicks and fads. Well, if you ask me, it is time to get back to the good old basics. The great outdoors awaits.

Nutrition by Conor HeffernanNov 3, 20159:40 am

Old School Weightloss Principles

In bodybuilding no one idea is more popular than that of the bulking/cutting cycle. From aspiring teenagers to Mr. Olympias, the majority of muscle fanatics seem to have bought into the idea of spending months eating an excess of calories in the pursuit of muscle (the bulk), only to restrict calories to do away with unwanted fat while maintaining mass (the cut).

So how did people ‘cut’ before the introduction of steroids, excessive cardio routines and evils like low fat diets?

Well here’s our quick and easy guide

Resources by Conor HeffernanJun 26, 20154:55 pm

Guest Post: 30-Minute Bodyweight-Only Cardio Sweat Fest

The good folks at Fix.com have been good enough to share this great infographic on a 30 minute bodyweight cardio routine that you can do anywhere at anytime. Try it out and let us know how […]