WHAT’S CHRONIC CARDIO? AND WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID IT.
Chronic Cardio is a pattern of frequent, sustained workouts of medium-to-difficult intensity with insufficient rest between sessions. The repetition and intensity puts the body/mind into a state of extreme stress. The stress activates the fight-or-flight mechanism, resulting in the release of cortisol and causing the body to crave carbohydrates. In order to recover from the immediate trauma and be prepared for tomorrow’s onslaught, hormonal changes switch the body into “fat storage” mode. Chronic Cardio, it can safely be said, ain’t pretty.
WHAT’S CHRONIC CARDIO? AND WHY SHOULD I AVOID IT?
Putting it simply, Chronic Cardio has 3 determining factors. The physical workouts are
- Frequent and sustained
- Of medium to difficult intensity, and
- With insufficient rest between sessions.
So, we’re not talking here about your heart pumping as you make your way up that steep mountain track on the chance Sunday when the sun happens to be shining. That sort of situation happens, maybe, once a month. Whilst the climb might take 45 minutes and require a sustained effort, there isn’t a pattern of frequency, which means your body has a chance to rest and fully recuperate afterwards. But if you do that three or four times a week then, yes, it becomes a case of Chronic Cardio. Too often means that the body never has a chance to fully recover: it remains in a constant state of stress.
How hard your heart pumps during your workouts is relevant. It determines whether your body is working aerobically or anaerobically. This impacts on whether you’re burning fat or sugar for fuel. Strangely enough, how hard your heart should pump to keep your workout healthy depends not on your level of fitness, but on your age.
Best Wishes, Good Health and Happiness.
