Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Perez

Cardio. We love it. We hate it.

For some, it's a necessary evil.

For others, they place more importance on it than weight training or diet.

And yet, for many individuals, cardio is looked at as something that must and should be completely avoided.

So, what's the verdict?

Does cardio help or hurt your goal of building a muscular, strong, defined physique?

Saying that the topic of cardio is a point of debate is a major understatement.

There are few themes that cause more disagreement and opposing views as the subject of cardio.

First let's look at what the pro bodybuilders do.

No group of individuals in the world, regardless of the sport, better achieves MAXIUMUM muscle mass coupled with MINIMUM body fat, which is what 99% of us are trying to get.

Well, take a good look at them as a whole.

You have just as many pro bodybuilders that DON'T do absolutely ANY cardio whatsoever, as those that do tons and tons of cardio to obtain the defined, shredded look.

Don't believe me that there are bodybuilders out there that do absolutely NO cardio, yet are tremendously vascular and ripped??

Take one good look at Darrem Charles, Vince Taylor, Gerard Dente, Dave Henry, and for over the first decade of his bodybuilding career, Dexter Jackson, as well as many fitness female athletes.

These individuals do zero, zilch, nada, no cardio at all, ever, not even pre-contest, yet time and time again these individuals step on stage with greater definition and separation than just about every other bodybuilder that does do cardio.

These individuals display the symmetrical, muscular, defined physique that exemplifies what the human body should look like.

So, the question of whether cardio is necessary to obtain and maintain low body fat levels, while maintaining muscle mass / tone is well deserved.

Now, you may be one of those that could care less about body fat.