[Azure]

Originally Posted by Peanut

So, I have another question for those with all the knowledge in here (NoWorries, Azure, etc.). I saw a trainer on TV who was pretty negative towards elliptical trainers because the movement doesn't have 'application in real life' like a treadmill, stairs, and bike exercise would have. Would you agree that cardio on the elliptical is not as "good" because you never do those motions in real life?

Trainer on TV?

They should pay me to be a trainer on TV and I could say something stupid too.

Seriously though, he makes absolutely no sense. Especially if he thinks that a treadmill simulates the actual motion of walking in real life. It doesn't, because the treadmill is powering your walk, so you don't really generate any power from your hips and core when you're walking on a treadmill. Not really 'real life' in the practical way the trainer was talking about.

The idea behind any cardio should be to get the HR up. Swimming does this better than rowing, rowing does this better than running, running does it better than biking, and biking does it better than walking. More muscles you use, the easier it is to increase your HR.

Because I've never really used the elliptical, I can't say how well it would do, but simply from watching the actual motion involved, I would say it is as good as tool to do cardio as anything else. Maybe even better because you're using more muscles, plus you're not banging up your knees which happens to runners, especially the heavy ones.

If what the trainer said would actually be true, why squat? I mean, its not like people actual simulate the parallel squat motion in real life all the time, right? Or why deadlift? How many people pick up something from the floor on a daily basis? Why clean? Why press? There are numerous, numerous lifts and exercises that are really in no way associated to what the average person does in real life. But, the deadlift builds a stronger back, the squat a stronger core/hip/lower body, the press/clean builds a stronger upper body, and being stronger in those areas can help you throughout your life. Same thing with cardio. Do enough cardio and you'll get into decently good shape, and suddenly you're not as tired. You have more energy. Walking the stairs at the office is less of a challenge and more of an easy, and on and on and on.

For you, you would notice the difference when you're hauling the little one around all the time. Or picking other kids up, or with the busy schedule mothers always have. The application of having a healthy and strong heart with a good cardiovascular system in YOUR life, is immense. As it usually is with everyone else too.

And this leads to my second question: my friend took me to a high-intensity aerobics class at GoodLife yesterday. It was definitely an intense cardio workout, but again, the movements in there don't have a lot of "real life" applications (unless you like to clap and bounce around a lot I guess ). So is it a "worse" workout to be doing aerobics when I could be doing a spin class/running stairs/jogging for an hour instead?

You should be doing what you enjoy, first of all. After that, there are more benefits involved with doing high-intensity work as opposed to going to a spinning class for an hour.

Don't worry about the 'real life' approach. Do what you enjoy.

Now, the trainer wasn't exactly WRONG. He was just WRONG in regards to the audience he was presenting his message too.

His message is better geared towards the athlete. Sport-specific training they call it. For example, a hockey player won't spend the majority of his time working the upper body. The majority of his workouts will be based around core/lower body strength, because the life and job of a hockey player is based around unitizing that core/lower body strength. Its usually interesting when you see pictures of hockey players, and they're not seriously ripped. Not bulging biceps, etc, etc. Because they don't train to have bulging biceps. It doesn't benefit them.

Football players have a bigger need for upper body strength. Especially the offensive/defensive linemen. Which is why when you follow Joe Defranco's training programs, you notice he has a lot of upper body strength/power/endurance work for his football athletes. Again, sport specific training.

As it goes with all kinds of different sports.

But, the average person isn't that seriously involved that sport specific training becomes a priority, and usually just being a very good shape will allow you to outpace most other people you play with.

And the average mom will NEVER notice the difference that a elliptical has between a treadmill or a bike.