CARDIO SUCKS (But not always HIIT IT!)

I am not a fan of the traditional cardio.  You may have caught a whiff of that in my title. I'm built like a gymnast, all fast twitch muscly and stuff, so endurance and I are not on speaking terms very often.  Possibly because I'm asthmatic and gasping for breath - wheeze, wheeze, cough, sputter.  This doesn't mean I think you shouldn't do any cardio. On the contrary.  I'm merely saying, find a form of training that works for you.  If long distance running is not your bag, perhaps a hike or rowing or what I do - lift weights faster "a la" Jen Sinkler!  She can explain it better than I. Think high intensity interval training. Think *cough cough* CrossFit. *Cough, hint, cough*  Cherry *cough* Bomb ...?  About as subtle as hand grenade, I am.

Renegade row burpees will get your heart rate up!

Now a few points about the lifting faster remark above.  One, it is absolutely harder and metabolically demanding to move heavy weights quickly - Psst, that means it burns more calories.   That's why I do so love the kettlebell swing.  Yes, that, my pretties is a cardio workout in addition to working on strength and balance and...so on. That being said, you must first have the technique and form down to do it and anything safely.  That was point two.  Go quickly but stay controlled.  Please don't just throw your arms around punching the air. That's a great way to pop a shoulder out of place or tear something or knock out a fellow athlete.  

"But I look fit.  Check out these biceps!"  

Yes, yes, your awesome.  Basically big strong muscles are great but don't forget the little muscle beating away inside.  What's the point of having all that sinew if you can't outrun the little girl in front of you when the zombies attack.  You sure as heck aren't going to look hot on the beach in your tiny bathing suit when your panting like a dog just walking through the sand.  Get your cardio in however you can or want.  That's up to you.  I just like to lift somewhat lighter weights a bit faster...lighter does not mean 2 lbs mind you. My lighter.  20 lb dumbell or 65 lb bar. That kind of lighter.  

The 80's are over and that dated idea that cardio must involve hours of jumping around or falling forward slowly for miles on end, destroying your knees, hips, ankles, isn't the only way to get 'er done.  The spandex of the 80's might be coming back, though I'm not sure where I stand on that one, but you can be certain that I'll stand around swinging a kettlebell in them when they do.

Go on.  Find a weight.  Find a workout that incorporates strength and cardiovascular all in one. Something, like, I don't know, CrossFit styled FIT BOMBS?  Like this one... BOOM! Another hand grenade of subtlety.  I'm just so clever.

This video is nothing like my other ones. I wasn't planning on making it a FIT BOMB. I don't talk in it at all which if you know me is so not me. I decided to just do the workout and edited it together after the fact. Voila! This strange silent film is what you get.