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Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?
Workout myths, Training truths, and Other Surprising Discoveries from the Science of Exercise
Alex Hutchinson(0)
About
There's plenty of conventional wisdom on health and fitness — but how much of it is scientifically sound? The truth is: less than you'd think.
In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, physicist and award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson tackles dozens of commonly held beliefs and looks at just what research science has — and has not — proven to be true:
Should I exercise when I'm sick? · Do I get the same workout from the elliptical machine that I get from running? · What role does my brain play in fatigue? · Will running ruin my knees? · To lose weight, is it better to eat less or exercise more? · How should I adapt my workout routine as I get older? · Does it matter what I'm thinking about when I train? · Will drinking coffee help or hinder my performance? · Should I have sex the night before a competition?
This myth-busting book covers the full spectrum of exercise science and offers the latest in research from around the globe, as well as helpful diagrams and plenty of practical tips on using proven science to improve fitness, reach weight loss goals, and achieve better competition results.
How long does it take to get in shape?
First, the good news. Your body actually starts getting stronger and healthier just hours after you start working out. But if you're wondering how long it will take to rock a six-pack-well, you'll have to be a bit more patient. A few years ago, exercise scientist Megan Anderson and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse put 25 sedentary volunteers through an intense six-week exercise program modeled on the bold claims made by companies such as Bowflex and Body-for-Life. Despite sticking to the program religiously, zero percent of the subjects developed instant washboard abs. In fact, a panel of six judges could detect no differences whatsoever in their physical attractiveness before and after the program.
That doesn't mean nothing was happening. After just a few strength training sessions, your brain learns to recruit more muscle fibers and make them contract all at once to produce a greater force. This "neural act
In Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights?, physicist and award-winning journalist Alex Hutchinson tackles dozens of commonly held beliefs and looks at just what research science has — and has not — proven to be true:
Should I exercise when I'm sick? · Do I get the same workout from the elliptical machine that I get from running? · What role does my brain play in fatigue? · Will running ruin my knees? · To lose weight, is it better to eat less or exercise more? · How should I adapt my workout routine as I get older? · Does it matter what I'm thinking about when I train? · Will drinking coffee help or hinder my performance? · Should I have sex the night before a competition?
This myth-busting book covers the full spectrum of exercise science and offers the latest in research from around the globe, as well as helpful diagrams and plenty of practical tips on using proven science to improve fitness, reach weight loss goals, and achieve better competition results.
How long does it take to get in shape?
First, the good news. Your body actually starts getting stronger and healthier just hours after you start working out. But if you're wondering how long it will take to rock a six-pack-well, you'll have to be a bit more patient. A few years ago, exercise scientist Megan Anderson and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse put 25 sedentary volunteers through an intense six-week exercise program modeled on the bold claims made by companies such as Bowflex and Body-for-Life. Despite sticking to the program religiously, zero percent of the subjects developed instant washboard abs. In fact, a panel of six judges could detect no differences whatsoever in their physical attractiveness before and after the program.
That doesn't mean nothing was happening. After just a few strength training sessions, your brain learns to recruit more muscle fibers and make them contract all at once to produce a greater force. This "neural act