Low Max: An Anaerobic Workout?

B

beanqueen

Cathlete
hi all...

i have a question re: low max. okay, i got it since i have bad knees, and wanted something low impact but still 'cathe-intense'. :p

i've been doing it on a 6" step. but i find that i really don't get much of a cardio workout. it seems to be more of a "LEG WORKOUT" . which is okay, but i was looking for more of a cardio workout (ala imax/step blast). i realize that working the legs contributes greatly to the overall cardio aspect of the workout. but, is it just me...or is it more of an anaerobic workout..w/ an emphasis on legs?

would bumping the step to 8" give me more of a cardio workout..or would it just give me a MORE intense leg workout? eek! :eek:

i know alot of people love low max for the 'low intensity imax' aspect of it, but i'm wondering if i'm just missing something?
(which in "my world" is HIGHLY likely! LOL :p)

would appreciate your thoughts on this!

thanks a bunch!
bq
 
Hi, bumping it up to 8" will increase the cardio intensity. My heart rate gets into my anaerobic zone in 6 out of the 8 blasts and so for me this is an interval workout with aerobic and anaerobic segments. I use an 8" step and its also important to squat deep during all of the balsts in order to get your hr up there during the blasts. It is also a leg workout and according to my hrm and others on these boards it is a super calorie burner...much more than any of the IMAXes.
 
I have a hard time in the cardio portion of the routine getting my heart rate to stay up. I use and 8 inch step and I find I really have to use big movements and even a jump here and there in the cardio portion to keep my heartrate elevated. It is an aweome leg workout though and it is a lot of fun.

Susan
 
"Anaerobic" simply means "without oxygen", and IMHO no one is driven to their true anaerobic threshold with Low Max. Intensity is in the eye of the beholder; I personally find Low Max to be an exceedingly low-intensity workout especially in terms of cardiovascular challenge. The only time I've done it is when I had an injured foot and had to lay off propulsion moves for a coupleof weeks. It was better than doing nothing.

I do agree that increasing your step height to 8" would boost the cardio intensity. The blasts might put you up to your anaerobic threshold depending on your current fitness level, but I sincerely doubt it. I also agree that you can enjoy some leg-shaping benefits with LM, especially with the blasts that keep you on one leg for about a year before switching to the other.

A-Jock
 
thanks everybody. :)

well, i guess i'll just think of this primarily as a 'leg workout' vs. cardio, and adjust my rotation thusly.

thanks so much!
bq
 
Most of the time I just do the blast premix as an add on. When I do the blasts one after another on an 8" step my heart rate goes up.
The blasts do fry my legs. I do like the entire workout but opt to do the entire workout on days I want a slower paced workout.

Jo
 
I don't know about anyone else but Low Max sends my HR into the stratosphere. I'm looking forward to having it come down a little.
 
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