Many bodybuilders are confused regarding aerobic exercise, with some feeling that such effort is necessary to control body fat, while others preferring the concept that cardiovascular exercise will either burn away muscle mass, or prevent future muscle building. The latter group's concern has forced many bodybuilders to abandon aerobic activity during muscle building periods, and even prohibit cardiovascular exercise when fat loss is the main goal, but for many, the question remains as to whether the aerobic activity hysteria is well founded, or if this idea is instead a part of weight lifting mythology.
Most bodybuilders do realize the positive impact of aerobic activity in fat loss, but the worry mounts when contemplating the effect on muscle mass, and this idea has forced certain bodybuilders to replace their moderately intense aerobic routines with power walking, feeling that this behavior is properly intense for fat burn, but below the threshold for muscle loss. I sometimes try to determine precisely where these notions originate, and a group may have possibly felt so motivated by the concept of putting forth less effort (which is the case when comparing power walking to jogging), that they began promoting this rather foolish proposition, or, alternatively, a group of advertisers may have decided to design a physical fitness program filled with attractive information, namely an easy to follow routine that will encourage readers to sign up due to the magnificent effortless promises. Of course, such ideas have repeatedly proven themselves to be abysmal failures, offering terrible results. Yet, what weight lifter does not relish in the thought of suppressing effort and achieving improved progress? Taking this idea further, do you know of any bodybuilder who would reject an excuse to eliminate aerobic exercise completely if he or she were convinced that doing so was helpful to muscle gains?
Yes, evil aerobics sounds like a very attractive proposition to a weight lifter who is seeking less effort, and marketing is an industry where the senses are attacked to the point of emotional investment, but the wisdom taught decades ago are never replaced by modern marketing slogans, despite the attempt of many exercise entrepreneurs to do so. Making aerobics seem harmful is an excellent method at encouraging a weight lifter to invest financially in a specific muscle building and fat loss program, because each one of us feels a sense of curiosity towards the idea of more down time producing enhanced progress, but this particular gimmick does not translate into results. Wherever the concept surfaced, advertisers have used the "aerobics burns muscle mass" idea to promote their own products, despite the fact that aerobic activity is not only effective in eliminating body fat when performed consistently and correctly, but is not a hindrance to muscle gain.
All bodybuilders realize that a physique will deteriorate in overall impressiveness as body fat percentage begins to climb, and conversely, will improve extraordinarily as body fat declines. Therefore, prudence suggests that any body fat control technique should be employed consistently in order for the most dramatic weight lifting results, and if aerobic activity is in fact an effective fat control method, then it behooves all who wish to pursue the best possible bodybuilding results to implement aerobic activity into their daily workout plan.
The only exception to this rule is if a bodybuilder is primarily seeking muscle gain, and due to a hectic schedule or an emotional inability to accept sufficient workout time, he or she feels simply incapable of maintaining maximum intensity during weight lifting workouts when aerobic activity is an additional burden; in such a situation, aerobic activity can be reserved for fat loss phases only, when weight lifting workout volume declines. But for those who have the time and wherewithal to perform regular aerobic activity, implementing aerobics several days per week is prudent, even during muscle building phases, as the less fat that is produced during muscle gain, the more focus can be maintained on achieving new muscle growth, and the more definition a bodybuilder will display throughout the year.
Therefore, despite the skeptics and marketing mavins who claim otherwise, aerobic activity is helpful in burning fat, will not harm muscle mass when following an effective diet plan and weight training workout system, and will improve metabolic rate so that body fat percentage can remain acceptable at all times. If you are pursuing maximum bodybuilding progress, then consider cardiovascular exercise to be your trusted fat reducing companion.