Use dumbbell cardio instead of an aerobic workout

Use dumbbell cardio instead of an aerobic workout

Most athletes wouldn't even consider using dumbbells for cardio. In fact, most athletes don't use dumbbells at even a fraction of their full potential. Well, that's about to change... if you've decided to follow my advice.

Exercise programs are traditionally divided into strength training (such as weight lifting) and cardio (such as jogging, rowing, or cycling). Or these two types of workouts are done on different days. And undoubtedly, most athletes choose aerobic exercises like jogging, cycling and rowing for the cardio part. I don't see people picking up dumbbells when it's time to do their cardio workout.

In the last year, most trainers (myself included) have moved away from aerobic exercise to anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise is high-intensity exercise for short periods of time that is repeated. Think about sprint intervals.

There is evidence that anaerobic activity is better than aerobic activity for improving endurance, strengthening the heart and lungs, and even burning fat. Not to mention, it will help you become more athletic and maintain hard-earned muscle. Unfortunately, not many athletes have made the switch because they were programmed for aerobic training in their “target heart rate zone.”

So it's no wonder that the jump to dumbbell cardio training hasn't caught on. A dumbbell cardio workout is when you perform a series of dumbbell exercises in a circuit with as little rest as possible between exercises. I also call these “dumbbell intervals” because you do an exercise interval, followed by rest, and then more intervals.

Dumbbell cardio is a better choice for a great cardio (and total body) workout for many reasons. First and the simplest reason is that you don't need expensive equipment like exercise bikes, rowing machines or treadmills. All you need is a set of dumbbells and you're ready to go. This is also great if you're working out in a crowded gym (yuk!) where the cardio machines are in constant use.

Second, dumbbell cardio gets your heart and breathing going with the ENTIRE body, not just one part of the body like the legs. Your heart needs to pump blood to the muscles of the legs, core, and upper body. This prepares the heart for more real-world activities than just jogging.

Thirdly, aerobics goes against your physique. Yes, it burns fat as you do it... but it also challenges the body to do what it needs to do to get lighter. This means your body also sacrifices muscle to reduce weight. On the other hand, using dumbbell cardio sends the signal to get rid of fat, but in a way that is gentle on the muscles of your entire body as they are needed to complete the workout.

So next time you're looking for a great cardio workout that will actually help you build a powerful, lean, athletic body, skip the cardio machines and grab a pair of dumbbells instead. Additionally, you may find how effective dumbbells are as a complete training tool. Instead of doing boring aerobic exercises, try dumbbell cardio workouts.

Inspired by Eddie Lomax