
The same applies to your training. How you train, determines how you look.
Let's compare a Marathoner and a Sprinter.
Now, Whom would YOU like to look? The Marathoner or the Sprinter?
My choice is , The Sprinter. I am sure, you'll choose the sprinter's too, unless you want to be a professional Marathon runner.
So Let's analyze here, why exactly these athletes look so different.
This is because, they train differently.
- A marathon runner trains himself by running long distances over longer periods of time at a lower intensity and speed.( Uses the Oxidative pathway of energy)
- A Sprinter , however, trains himself by running shorter distances for a few seconds by giving it all he's got.( Uses the Anaerobic pathway of energy)
Both seem OK on the face of it.
But there's a question that I don't have an answer for.
( Drumrollll)
Which animal on the face of this earth jogs at low intensity for 6 hours ( or how many ever hours marathon runner train) , and why would it do anything like this?
Leaving athletes who compete in the spirit of the sport aside( Respect to them), but why would people like you and me walk/ slowly jog for 1-2 hours on the treadmill to look like them? I'm sure you dont want to look like a marathon runner! Then why would you train like one??
Our Body is simple. It adapts to an external stimuli and makes itself capable of handling it.
So, why would you look like a marathon runner by doing hours of low intensity cardio on the treadmill?This is because , to sustain and get energy for a longer period, the body's only source is "FAT" .Glycogen in the muscle is used for short bursts of energy requirement and Fats are required by the body to provide energy for low intensity long duration exercises like walking /jogging for 1-2 hours.
SO , What does your body do?
But there's a question that I don't have an answer for.
( Drumrollll)
Which animal on the face of this earth jogs at low intensity for 6 hours ( or how many ever hours marathon runner train) , and why would it do anything like this?
Leaving athletes who compete in the spirit of the sport aside( Respect to them), but why would people like you and me walk/ slowly jog for 1-2 hours on the treadmill to look like them? I'm sure you dont want to look like a marathon runner! Then why would you train like one??
Our Body is simple. It adapts to an external stimuli and makes itself capable of handling it.
So, why would you look like a marathon runner by doing hours of low intensity cardio on the treadmill?This is because , to sustain and get energy for a longer period, the body's only source is "FAT" .Glycogen in the muscle is used for short bursts of energy requirement and Fats are required by the body to provide energy for low intensity long duration exercises like walking /jogging for 1-2 hours.
SO , What does your body do?
It slowly, throws away the Muscles ( which fulfills energy requirement for short bursts of intense exercise) and stores more fat, because it needs to adapt itself to be able to sustain 1-2 hours of cardio.
Outcome: You lose a little bit of Fat and a lot of muscle. You may Lose "Weight" at the cost of your muscles and you'll end up looking like a Marathon runner eventually.( I'm sure you don't want that)
Outcome: You lose a little bit of Fat and a lot of muscle. You may Lose "Weight" at the cost of your muscles and you'll end up looking like a Marathon runner eventually.( I'm sure you don't want that)
And, what happens when you train like a sprinter?
Again, your body adapts to be able to sustain your training.
Since energy for short bursts of heavy duty requirement like, Sprinting , short put , Boxing , Fielding in a game of cricket, Baseball Pitching , Soccer , comes from Glycogen stored in the muscles , your body tries to gain Muscles and tries to throw away the excess FAT , since it doesn't need it anymore, because you aren't doing anymore of low intensity cardio for 1-2 hours. Look at the difference between the legs of a Marathon runner and a sprinter. Notice that a marathon runner has more Fat than muscle and the sprinter has more muscle than Fat.
Besides, A Sprinter Workout takes only about 20 mins vs a Marathon runner's workout that people do for anywhere between 1-2 hours. Also, a sprinter's workout increases your BMR and helps in burning calories even after you finish your cardio.
So now, Whom do you wanna look like?
Since energy for short bursts of heavy duty requirement like, Sprinting , short put , Boxing , Fielding in a game of cricket, Baseball Pitching , Soccer , comes from Glycogen stored in the muscles , your body tries to gain Muscles and tries to throw away the excess FAT , since it doesn't need it anymore, because you aren't doing anymore of low intensity cardio for 1-2 hours. Look at the difference between the legs of a Marathon runner and a sprinter. Notice that a marathon runner has more Fat than muscle and the sprinter has more muscle than Fat.
Besides, A Sprinter Workout takes only about 20 mins vs a Marathon runner's workout that people do for anywhere between 1-2 hours. Also, a sprinter's workout increases your BMR and helps in burning calories even after you finish your cardio.
So now, Whom do you wanna look like?
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Them? |
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Or Them? |
Make a choice and Train like one.
Next Post on How to Train like a sprinter, with sample Workouts.. Stick around!
Cheers.