excessive cardio = bad?

Breamy · 11 Apr 2006 at 18:48

how does running work your arms then?

Morba · 11 Apr 2006 at 18:49

Breamy said:
how does running work your arms then?

do you run with your arms by your side?
also running is regarded as high impact iirc due to the jolt up your legs into your body.

Breamy · 11 Apr 2006 at 18:50

see what you mean but holding them up isnt like when you are rowing. and as running is high impact rowing is better for you as it puts less pressure on joints

Morba · 11 Apr 2006 at 18:53

Breamy said:
see what you mean but holding them up isnt like when you are rowing. and as running is high impact rowing is better for you as it puts less pressure on joints

a better alternative (directly) to the treadmill would be the xtrainer, same motion no impact imo.
tbh both exercises are as good as each other, both do the right thing.
you said before that rowing is mainly a leg thing, which would be like running ;]

also its not just holding them up, the whole swinging motion of the arms is using a lot of muscles, also im thinking that your arms swing more in running than rowing.

Breamy · 11 Apr 2006 at 18:54

ye but there is still some arms. if you can row properly its a full body work out

Gilly · 11 Apr 2006 at 19:10

Breamy said:
running only uses the legs rowing works the whole body so how does running use more energy?

Rubbish.

Running works everything. Legs, chest, back, arms, shoulders, stomach.

You're also carrying all your bodyweight. Something you aren't doing with rowing.

The only generic cardio exercise better than running is swimming.

Mr Mister · 11 Apr 2006 at 20:09

Gilly said:
The only generic cardio exercise better than running is swimming.

Very true. Swimming>running>>>>rowing.

Breamy · 11 Apr 2006 at 20:33

have any of you actually tried rowing properly. i bet if you came down to my local rowing club with me and trained with me you would agree rowing is harder than running specially rowing in boats

Gilly · 11 Apr 2006 at 21:34

Breamy said:
have any of you actually tried rowing properly. i bet if you came down to my local rowing club with me and trained with me you would agree rowing is harder than running specially rowing in boats

Yes I have. I trained for 4 months with an army rowing champion (and for the life of my I now can't remember his name) who helped me a long way to building my upper body strength without really gaining in size.

It just doesn't compare. Sorry to besmirch your holy grail, but rowing really doesn't compare to running, and definitely doesn't to swimming.

Goatboy · 11 Apr 2006 at 21:38

Breamy said:
rowing is better for you as it puts less pressure on joints

Who said putting 'pressure' on joints with a bad thing? your joints (and connective tissues) need strengthening just like your heart, lungs and muscles.
Acrobats and gymnasts seem to do alright with 'high impact' movements that everyone is so scared of.

Bear · 11 Apr 2006 at 21:50

Goatboy said:
Who said putting 'pressure' on joints with a bad thing? your joints (and connective tissues) need strengthening just like your heart, lungs and muscles.
Acrobats and gymnasts seem to do alright with 'high impact' movements that everyone is so scared of.

I ran 2 miles on a treadmill and the next day I felt like a granny in need of a hip replacement it was killing me to walk. I think I'll stick with the non impact stuff

Its probably due to me having a very poor running action, perhaps some decent running shoes would have helped.

Violent-J · 15 Apr 2006 at 15:51

I agree with the swimming > all part, I went swimming for the first time in ages a few days ago and after about 9 lengths of the olympic size pool, even though the water was cold, I was really hot, my face was red and I must have been sweating buckets but you can't really tell under water.

Hlebio · 15 Apr 2006 at 20:45

If you are trying to build muscle, too much cardio can make it very hard work.

Unless you've got your diet spot on you'll be burning quite a bit of muscle during cardio.

One More Solo · 15 Apr 2006 at 21:37

Bear said:
I ran 2 miles on a treadmill and the next day I felt like a granny in need of a hip replacement it was killing me to walk. I think I'll stick with the non impact stuff

Its probably due to me having a very poor running action, perhaps some decent running shoes would have helped.

Running shoes help a lot and your body soon gets used to it. A mile used to kill me, now I can do 6 and feel fine the next day.

Vegetarian · 16 Apr 2006 at 01:32

I go to gym 5-6 times a week

I often burn 1000 in an hour! But some x-trainers are more efficant than others - on the same level on some I only get 800 per hour on some others 1100...

Bear · 16 Apr 2006 at 08:33

One More Solo said:
Running shoes help a lot and your body soon gets used to it. A mile used to kill me, now I can do 6 and feel fine the next day.

Hmm perhaps I'll get some decent running shoes and give it another go then. On another note does anyone get disorientated when getting off a treadmill after a long session on it ?? I start to spin out and alomst fall over as I feel Im still moving even though Im not because of the treadmill action.

@if ®afiq · 16 Apr 2006 at 10:14

Bear said:
Hmm perhaps I'll get some decent running shoes and give it another go then. On another note does anyone get disorientated when getting off a treadmill after a long session on it ?? I start to spin out and alomst fall over as I feel Im still moving even though Im not because of the treadmill action.

Do you slowly decrease your speed or just stop straight away? I slow down gradually over a lap and just walk off as normal...

theleg · 16 Apr 2006 at 10:27

Skipping > *

Sadgeek · 16 Apr 2006 at 11:03

Bear said:
Hmm perhaps I'll get some decent running shoes and give it another go then. On another note does anyone get disorientated when getting off a treadmill after a long session on it ?? I start to spin out and alomst fall over as I feel Im still moving even though Im not because of the treadmill action.

I get pins and needles in my toes after about 10 minutes, which slowly spreads through my feet. If I stay on for more than 20 minutes, my feet are numb :eek:

so I don't use the x-trainer.

I've never had the motion feeling that you mention though I have felt as if my legs are still turning if I've been out on my bike for a few hours.

Bear · 16 Apr 2006 at 20:05

@if ®afiq said:
Do you slowly decrease your speed or just stop straight away? I slow down gradually over a lap and just walk off as normal...

The machine has a cool down session which lasts for a few minutes. TBH Im very sensitive to motion sickness so its probably just me, just like I cant play FPS computer games as it makes me want to throw up after 5-10 minutes or so.

excessive cardio = bad?

Man of Honour