Advantages Of Metabolic Resistance Training Over Traditional Cardio

Steady state cardio meaning running on a treadmill for 45 minutes at near the same pace the entire time has been the standard method of weight loss since the 1980s when the popularity of aerobic classes exploded. Unfortunately we've been following a tradition that isn't nearly the most effective means of weight loss, long-term and short-term.



Metabolic resistance training is a new phrase that has been gaining in popularity over the last couple of years and for a very good reason. It essentially causes a metabolic disturbance in your body meaning you'll be burning calories up to 48 hours after you work because your metabolism will be at an elevated state. This is great for weight loss because you'll find yourself burning fat even after you finish working out as opposed to steady state training where you stop burning calories once you stop training.



So what exactly is metabolic resistance training? It's basically a way of training that incorporates high intensity interval training by means of weight resistance training. Now this doesn't necessarily mean to pick up the latest issue of Muscle & Fitness and lift weights all day. Instead you're training with full body resistance training instead of muscle isolation exercises as well as doing sprints outside (or on the treadmill) and having a recover period in between.



Now metabolic resistance training is going to be significantly more difficult than steady state cardio but you'll get more results quicker than you would doing the latter and it won't take you nearly as long to do it. Most people aren't accustomed to training this way and the level of intensity is usually something they are not able to handle so if you're a beginner the best thing you can do is slowly progress your resistance up as you develop. A huge mistake many people take is going right into this high level of intensity training and after they nearly throw up they'll quit and go hang out on a bicycle for the rest of their gym duration.



A very fundamental example of this is a sprinter and a marathon runner. If you watch the ending of a marathon and see the winner you'll notice how incredible skinny and emaciated they look. This is not a very attractive body that you'll want to have but they do the same type of training that you do, long steady state cardio. If you watch the Olympics and see the sprinters who win gold metals they have a very lean muscular look to them that is very attractive. They achieve this by sprinting, therefore by incorporating high intensity metabolic resistance training into their workouts.