Cardio Free
Jim Karas makes a shocking claim about cardio exercise.
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BACKGROUND
Do you hate all the traditional cardio exercises, like jogging, walking and spinning? Feel like all that work is leading nowhere? Then stop. Jim Karas, personal trainer and author of The Cardio-Free Diet says you don't need to do it. In fact, he goes as far as to say that cardio exercises could actually be doing more harm to your body than they're helping. Karas says through regulated strength training, you'll find the weight loss results you're seeking, increase energy, metabolism and develop a sexier, more toned figure.
The Cardio-Free Diet claims you'll need 20-minute strength sessions only three days a week. Strength training is widely championed as a more effective way to burn fat and create muscle. By committing to these strength exercises, you're picking up all of benefits you thought you were getting from cardio and still promoting a healthy heart. By strengthening your body's lean muscle mass, you'll tone up and burn calories more effectively than with cardio.
Why the negative spin on cardio? Karas says the impact can cause damage to your knees, ankles and back and even damage internal organs. Plus, it's not burning nearly as many calories as you think it is.
FOOD & RECIPES
Karas recommends counting calories and eating a 100-calorie snack before and after your workouts. Always eat breakfast, never skip meals, and increase fiber. He advises eating six small meals a day. Nothing groundbreaking or different here.
EXPENSE
Cost of the Cardio-Free Diet book. Karas also offers exercise equipment at his website.
PRO
Focuses people on the importance of strength training.
CON
As you might suspect, The Cardio-Free Diet has critics. Some say that Karas is misleading people and could potentially harm individuals by straying them away from cardio exercises that medical professionals have spent decades trying to make the public appreciate. Others say that Karas brings up an important point, but that there should be a balance between cardio and strength training.
CONCLUSION
Let’s just say that you're not exactly going to be harming yourself if you exclude cardio. You’ll probably lose weight on this diet and exercise plan. But it seems odd that Karas is the only so-called expert touting the idea of cardio exercise not only being unnecessary, but dangerous.
common misspellings: Cardo free diet, cardo free diet, cardio free deit, cardio deit, cardio diet
Anonymous: sounds dumb....clearly cardio is good for you
Anonymous: Check out Scott Connelly's "Body Rx". He too promotes an aerobic free exercise plan. Claims strength training is more beneficial and productive to fat loss. Terrific, easy to follow program.
