Cardio… Some bodybuilders already feel irritation just by hearing that word alone. And for some, practicing it is even harder than a leg workout.
It’s no wonder that many strength athletes, not just bodybuilders, have a strong dislike for cardio.
I myself am one of them.
And saying ‘a strong dislike’ is still very politely put, considering how I express it in my mind.
And well, you can’t blame them either. When you think of cardio, you quickly think of treadmills and ellipticals.
Deadly boring, annoying, time-consuming, and moreover, you feel like it adds nothing. And it certainly doesn’t contribute to muscle strength and mass development. And that’s usually the reason why we’re in the gym multiple times a week.
Importance of Cardio for Bodybuilding
So why do cardio then? Just because it’s part of it?
It’s even so that the longer you do it and the further you progress, the more important cardio (or practicing another sport alongside bodybuilding) becomes.
Because no matter how you look at it, let’s be honest, strength sports like powerlifting and bodybuilding do have an effect on your condition. And that effect is not positive.
‘So what?’ you might think. ‘I don’t have to run a marathon, do I?’
That’s true. But that’s not the only thing that matters.
The more muscle mass you develop, the bigger the problem becomes when you have poor condition. Additionally, your flexibility also decreases, and it can even become so extreme that you start to struggle with everyday things like climbing stairs. You often see advanced bodybuilders who only lift weights and do nothing else, often facing issues like shortness of breath.
Moreover, poor condition only works against you in the gym. Think of big exercises, such as squats and deadlifts. Sure, you need strength to move the weights in those exercises. But do you think that’s all? They demand a lot from your body and it’s important that it works together.
If you have to rest and catch your breath for 10 minutes after every set of squats, deadlifts, and lunges before you can start the next set, your condition isn’t good. That only works against you and has a negative impact on your results.
In short, make sure you stay in shape. And not just in physical appearance. Also on a conditional level. It’s not for nothing that most IFBB pros incorporate cardio alongside their gym sessions throughout the year, whether it’s off-season or on-season.
Aside from contributing to good condition, cardio can also be used perfectly as a general warm-up. It prepares your body and mind for the training session ahead.
Arguments like: ‘You’re just wasting energy that you could put into strength training and making yourself tired’ are not true. Of course, there are disadvantages alongside advantages, but it also depends on how you apply it. And if you do it the right way, there’s no problem, and it actually contributes to a positive training result.
Of course, it’s not the intention to exhaust yourself completely before you even start with strength training. Just think logically.
But yeah, how do you start? Because as I mentioned, most bodybuilders find cardio unappealing and are more than happy to find excuses to skip it. In bulking, for example, adding cardio would mean you’d have to eat even more to compensate for the calories burned.
First of all, open your mind a bit more and be creative. Cardio can be performed in all sorts of different forms. You don’t necessarily have to limit yourself to the treadmill and the bike. Look for a form that interests you and that you enjoy doing. Boxing, for example, excellent cardio. It significantly improves your overall condition, as it targets your endurance in multiple different ways.
But also, other combat sports and self-defense like judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, and taekwondo are forms of cardio. Or maybe you’re a big music lover. How about dancing? That’s very diverse so you can explore different directions.
Maybe you’re a philosopher, spiritually inclined, and/or looking for something relatively heavy but at the same time relaxing. What about yoga? What, yoga? Absolutely. Give it a try. It’s going to be surprising!
Are you only interested in improving your strength? Occasionally incorporate a strongman training. You’ll notice that your overall strength improves, and besides, it’s definitely fun to do as a strength athlete. Since this is a different branch of strength sports, you should already have developed an interest in it, and it’s also something different from just lifting weights in the gym. Definitely worth trying.
And for those who think that strongman is only a sport for men who possess brute strength, they’re mistaken. It’s also physically demanding. So you definitely need to be in shape to compete in a competition. Otherwise, you won’t make it, no matter how strong you are.
In short, cardio does indeed add something. Use it and apply it in your workouts. Don’t be afraid that it will hinder your results. In the long run, you’ll only benefit from it.
It doesn’t have to take hours, requiring you to free up a lot of extra time. Be creative and open-minded. The goal is just to be fit, stay fit, or get fit. You don’t have to develop the kind of condition that enables you to achieve performances like winning the Tour de France or something!
