Plyometrics for Replacing Boring Cardio | Plyometrics for Weight Loss and 6 Pack Abs

We all have to do cardio, even guys trying to pack on muscle mass will benefit from some cardiovascular activity.  In achieving greater total fitness, athleticism, muscle development and weight loss, there are few ways greater to advance your body and your goals than with plyometrics.

Plyometrics represent a challenging and fast way to get an awesome cardiovascular workout while simultaneously developing fast-twitch muscle.  Why is this important?  Fast-twitch muscle is the visible, athletic muscle that you see in pro athletes like football and basketball players.  When you bench press, you’re pressing hard and fast, and lowering the barbell slowly to a moderate pace.  It is the explosive movement that puts great resistance on your body and your muscles and fosters major growth.  Plyometrics help you run faster, jump higher, hit harder, and develop greater power and agility.  And if done properly, they can be a great substitute for cardio.

Getting cardio while developing fast twitch muscle with Plyometrics

Usually with typical or traditional cardio like running 5 miles or getting on an exercise bike for an hour, the workout focuses on slow twitch muscle and low intensity over a long period of time.  If you need to know what someone with highly developed slow twitch muscles looks like, just take a look at a marathon runner and compare that to what a sprinter looks like.

The long, slow workouts at low to moderate intensity are fine if you don’t mind spending your time that way, but our bodies respond quite well to high intensity for shorter periods of time, and you can get even better results with your stamina, endurance, and yes, calorie burn while building explosive muscle!

One of the great things about plyometrics is that, just like sprints, regardless of your current level of fitness and athleticism, you can get a lot of great gains in a very short amount of time.  In as little as two weeks, you can really start to change your body with a regular dose of plyometrics.

I love how you can get an awesome workout completed in 40 minutes or less by doing plyometrics, get great cardio and improve your coordination, agility, and flexibility.  Whether you’re interested in gaining muscle or losing weight, plyometrics presents a fantastic opportunity for cross training that is sure to improve your body in countless ways.

I have been doing P90X and Insanity plyometrics for about a month now and really enjoy the benefits.  The workouts are extremely tough but they are fun and I realize just how productive they are.  I hope you’ll consider adding a day of plyometrics here and there in your fitness regimen to improve your body and more quickly attain your goals.

Here’s a video of some people doing a mere 4 minute segment of the Insanity 40 minute plyometric workout.  This is an example of plyometric cardio.  The results can be amazing.

Plyometrics can be done anywhere!

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