cardio

Cardiorespiratory exercise, known simply as cardio, is used to describe exercise that works your heart, since your heart is a (smooth) muscle after all. Simply put, cardio is movement that makes your circulatory system work harder. Performing exercises like brisk walking, running, swimming, and...

Picking a gym is a big decision. That might even be an understatement for MPA readers, because not having an adequate place to workout can make or break your results. For dedicated fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders alike, the gym is like a second home. You’re serious about your diet, your...

Going to the gym on days I don’t lift yes I take days off and rest but going in for cardio only with a bottle of water on empty stomach first thing in the morning trying to trick my body into using the fat I have stored for energy instead of whatever I put in my system before coming shake...

Are you in the predicament of not knowing how to diet and implement cardio based on your somatotype (e.g. ectomorph, endomorph, etc.)? This comprehensive guide will describe actionable tips for maximizing your muscle building and fat burning potential, regardless your natural genetic tendencies...

Wouldn’t it suck to spend a ton of money on preparing for a Bodybuilding or (insert division) competition only to scratch your head in wonderment after you don’t bring your best physique to the stage? How could this happen? You shopped at Whole Foods Market for the highest quality proteins and...

All right. Facebook Q and A. Troy Guillory asked a very good question. He was asking, doing steady state cardio around your weight training session if the adenosine monophosphate kinase the amp K promotion would defeat the mTOR response from your weight training or mechanical force resistance...

If you’re a bodybuilder or even just a casual gym-goer trying to pack on muscle, chances are you focus almost exclusively on resistance training (and correctly so). Nevertheless, cardiovascular training shouldn’t be overlooked even when muscle building is your primary goal, and there’s quite a...

As we continue to pack in food day in and day out, our brains quickly become “Ghrelin Resistant” as our brain-reward systems become desensitized from chronic food consumption. So the question is: How do we not become resistant to ghrelin production, and how do we keep leptin levels (hunger...

The almighty didn’t etch these ten unofficial commandments in stone and send them down through the clouds to me. So, naturally, they’ll always be open for debate. But having been in gyms for over 30 years and coaching clients in the beauty of strength training for the past 13 years, I’ve picked...

By Adam Bisek Whether you're a competitive physique athlete or just want to look the part, chances are you've done your fair share of "cardio." If you want to get really lean you're supposed to right? Or at the least, we're told it's healthy for us to dabble in the occasional mind-numbing...

By Adam Bisek Amongst the vast annals of bodybuilding folklore lies the theory of fasted aerobic activity; “fasted cardio.” The notion implies doing a bout of aerobics in the morning on an empty stomach will result in greater fat loss. Much like many long-standing hypotheses, this one went...

For those gymgoers who never skip leg day, a strong and muscular pair of quads and hamstrings is usually one the top goals of any fitness list. But unless you’re one of the few who are competing on the bodybuilding stage, there can be such a thing as legs too large, especially if buying pants...

By: Matt Weik When it comes to pieces of cardio equipment, each style and piece seems to have its own set of positives and negatives. You have the bike which is great assuming you don’t have any lower back issues, you have the treadmill, which is great if you don’t have knee problems… the...

By: Matt Weik This can become a loaded question. The gym you should join truly comes down to what you are comfortable with. My needs and wants might be different than your needs and wants. If I want to work out at a hardcore gym where loud music and heavy weights are being tossed around...

By: Matt Weik You have a hectic schedule. It could be due to work, kids, family life, social engagements, whatever. While we all know the benefits of exercise, there are times where we just don’t have enough time in the day to fit in everything and unfortunately, our workouts sometimes tend...

Weed through all the bad advice and misguided information tossed around gyms and the Internet. These tips help you to remove the confusion and improve results. 1. Deep squats are bad for your knees. 2. Crunches and sit ups give you six pack abs. 3. You can only train each body part once a week...

Complexes are the perfect tool for those looking to get more out of their workouts. Give these variations a try to maximize your muscle building & fat loss. No one has ever said building muscle and losing fat was easy. If you know anyone who has been successful at it, they’ll surely tell you it...

Unsure if steady state or high intensity cardio is better for the fat loss process? Bodybuilder Cliff Wilson explains the science behind fat loss and helps you to get shredded. The thought of doing cardio usually invokes strong feelings for most people. In my experience most people either love...

Cardio is necessary for fat loss, right? Let's see what scientific research suggests is the best type of cardio for burning fat while preserving muscle mass. So many gym goers are focused on fat loss. For some, that means adding cardio to boost calorie burn. But when you look around the gym...

Is low intensity cardio the best for pre-contest preparation? A look at low intensity cardio vs high intensity cardio for pre-contest prep and fat loss! I was six weeks out from my contest. While not behind in prep, I certainly wouldn't have minded getting ahead. Thus, I decided to add in HIIT...