Will cardio harm strength training?

If you want to be strong you should not do any cardio……

Thats what many people say, but are they right?

Cardio training like swimming, running, rowing and cycling can train your heart and lungs to use oxygen more efficiently during exercise. Aerobic exercise can't increase lung function, but it can help improve lung capacity — the amount of oxygen you take in with each breath.

If you like to train your muscles to look strong, like body builders do you will have to train at 60-70% of your max with many repetitions to get there. You could do up to 12 repetitions per set to create a muscle stimulus that will grow muscle. But if you try this you will find that by doing many repetition at a relative challenging weight you will start to feel a burn. The burn is caused by lactic acids that builds in your muscle.

When your body is efficient at using oxygen during aerobic activity, you're less likely to experience the burning sensation in your legs that comes from a buildup of lactic acid.

So this means that Aerobic training can support your muscle growth. You will find that some body builders will add Aerobic training in their program. You could use it as an active recovery day, which will help you recover much quicker and will help your body to be more efficient when it comes to the high rep muscle burn. You could also do a little bit of cardio between sets to get a similar effect.

So if you like to get big, don’t cut out Aerobic training. There is a time and a place where Aerobic training can help you get to your goal quicker!

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