When people go to the gym to do their "cardio" (I put that in quotes because, as I hope you know, I am not all for "cardio" to lose weight, but an integrated, progressive workout involving weights as well as your typical "cardio")..where was I!
OK, when people do their cardio, be it on the treadmill, Elliptical, bike, etc., they look at that little calorie counter like it is the end-all measuring stick to a good workout. Why? Because you run, bike, and train to burn the most calories, and you see that number going up and up and you feel better and better.
But, I hate to break it to you, that number is false. It's inaccurate. Don't pay attention to it! Why? Well, the number of calories it says you burned is based on the age and weight you put in. Do you think that's an accurate reflection of your actual workout? Hardly.
Try this. Next time you're on the treadmill, carefully step off to the sides. Does the calorie counter stop? Of course not! It still says you're burning 10, 12, 15 calories per minute. How accurate is that?
So why is this the case? Well, I'm sure you know, when you work out a few days a week, running on the treadmill for 45 minutes a day (or whatever you do) eventually you notice it's getting easier. Why is this? It's called the Principle of Specificity or SAID Principle. OK, that's trainer mumbo jumbo.
In English, the SAID Principle says that your body will adjust to the stressors placed on it. That means when you lift weights, your body will adapt and, if done correctly, muscles will grow. Same can be said for cardio. Your body adjusts and it becomes easier to run that 45 minutes. So your body isn't working as hard to do the workouts, and you aren't burning as many calories as you were!
Do you think you burned just as many calories during your 45 minute run yesterday as you burned three months ago when you first started? I don't think so!
What about this. Let's say for example me, a tri-athlete and a desk worker who has never been to a gym before all jump on the treadmill. We are all the same age. The calorie counter will say we burned the same calories. Will the tri-athlete and the man who's never been to the gym burn the same number of calories? I don't think so. That 45-minute workout will be a piece of cake to the athlete, and it will be hell for the guy who's never worked out before.
So don't look at that little number as a measure of a good workout! Change it up, hit the weights, use the stability ball, and shed the weight!
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