Metabolic Conditioning is a bit of a “bucket phrase” – in other words, it’s kind of a catch-all term that references a number of different types and styles of training. You’ll find that what we (at True North) refer to as “Metabolic Conditioning”, will have a lot of similarities to other types of training: HIIT (“High-Intensity Interval Training”), boot camps, circuit classes, MRT (“Metabolic Resistance Training”), Crossfit MetCon… and so on.
Owing to the fact that so many different things might be called “Metabolic Conditioning”, it may be easier to clarify what it is NOT:
- Strength training
- Sport-specific aerobic training
Now, this is not to say there may not be some improvements in strength or some improvements in your general cardiovascular fitness (especially when you first start adding it into your training). But you have to bear in mind that if you want to get stronger, you have to do strength training – and if you want to improve your cardiovascular conditioning, especially in a specific discipline (cycling or running, for example) then you have to spend some time doing that discipline.
In other words, if you:
- Want a workout that will both challenge your stamina while burning a whack of calories
- Have laid the necessary foundations of strength and movement (aka learned how to do the basics well)
- Are looking for a fun, high-intensity group class to get a sweat on
- Want to ADD an extra session into your week
Then jump in and try it out! Just make sure you talk to your coach about how to do so in a way that won’t interfere with any of the other training goals you might have!
