How about that very same pill increasing muscle tone and density?

You've gotta admit, it sounds pretty exciting doesn't it

Now, what if I said...'IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN!'

Unless...wait for it!

You begin to lift heavy weights in the gym and avoid your favourite step and fit ball class. Then and only then are you on your way to that dream physique

Now from that last statement I've probably already lost half the female audience, no matter... it's just makes the rest of you look even better.

This is unfortunately, a very common mistake that women far too often mistake as being a way to become a muscular bound female bodybuilder.

NOT TRUE!

In fact, if you're looking to get the kind of body like your favourite superstar, then I suggest you continue to read on.

For what you are about to receive... The following article is split into 4 parts. Part 1 will explain why we should be avoiding long durations on cardio machines known as 'long slow distance' (LSD). Part 2 will look at the reasons why lifting weights works better than LSD training and finally part 3 will explain why we should be lifting heavier with those weights. Part 4 will put it all together in a evenly balance program for you to follow.

The reason for doing it this way is there's a lot of new understanding to take on board. Some of this is going to go completely against your usual way of thinking, meaning you may or may wish to read any further parts.

All I can say is from the experience of coaching many clients in my time, this works better than anything and the results WILL amaze you!

So why should we avoid lengthy sessions on the cardio machines?

There are a number of reasons why we should avoid long cardio sessions, the first is simple.

Our body was designed to survive from the days when we were hunter/gatherers and our vocabulary consisted of um, ugg and errr. Kind of like a teenager...

When we ran (chasing food or being chased as food) our body would produce the hormone Cortisol (a stress hormone) as chasing food or becoming food can become a pretty stressful thing for us.

When Cortisol is produced, the body begins to store body fat by slowing down its natural metabolism. The reason being, if you are chasing something and don't catch it, you have no idea when you are going to be eating next. Your body knows that it will have to survive on its own stored fats.

Although our bodies have indeed evolved over the many years there are lots of things about the human body that remain the same. The stress hormone cortisol being released through LSD (long slow distance) being one.

Don't be fooled that it won't happen to you just because you go on the cross trainer, stepper, rower or any other form of equipment. It will, the body can't identify what exercise it is doing or whether you're looking to burn fat or being chased.

If its LSD training you're doing and you're looking to tone and lose fat, you will soon find yourself at a sticking point very soon as your Cortisol levels begin to rise.

The Zone

Let's take another look at those long cardio sessions that "help burn fat".

The fat burning zone uses bodyfat as energy instead of carbohydrates; this is known as 'SUB RQ1' where the body doesn't have to use carbohydrates for energy. Now although this is true, if it was so effective, we would be losing pounds as we watch TV or read a book, but as we all know by now, that's just not the case!

Yes, you will burn more calories when exercising at the gym or walking round the park but to get in the true fat burning zone or 'optimal zone' you'll have to exercise for 90minutes (non stop) at least...

After about 90 minutes the body becomes extremely efficient at burning bodyfat!

This true, but come on....90 minutes!

England could have been defeated by Luxembourg B team by then. (I'm referring to soccer of course)

So if the body is burning pure bodyfat after 90 minutes, what's being burnt as energy before then?

MUSCLE!

Remember, carbohydrates don't work at this lower level of intensity so something has to help the fat with energy fuels and if we use muscle we immediately start to slow down our metabolism.

Solution

Now I know that the cardio, fat burning, step obsessed, 'the longer the better' exercise junkies out there aren't going to suddenly hang up their lycra shorts and ankle weights only to share the weights room with the usual vest wearing grunters.

As a result what you should do is something we call Tabata.

Pick your favourite piece of cardio equipment

Warm up for 2 minutes

Go as fat as you can for 30 seconds

Take it easy for just 10 seconds

Repeat 8 times

It's as simple as that and believe me you will really feel like you've had a very intense yet very short workout!