Zone 2 is everywhere right now. For a lifter who mostly cares about muscle and strength, is easy low-intensity cardio actually worth the time, or is it just the current trend?
It's genuinely worth it for most lifters. Zone 2 builds your aerobic base and work capacity with almost no interference to lifting, improves recovery between sets and sessions, and is great for heart health. The hype is mostly justified, even if it's trendy.
The work-capacity and recovery benefits are real - I added 2-3 easy zone 2 sessions a week and noticed I recovered faster between heavy sets and felt less gassed on high-rep work. Low cost, real return.
How long do you actually need per session for it to matter?
30-45 minutes at a conversational pace, a few times a week, is plenty for general lifters. You don't need 90-minute sessions unless you're an endurance athlete. Walking briskly, easy bike, incline treadmill all count.
The beauty is it doesn't fight your gains the way hard intervals can. You can do a fair bit of it without hurting strength or size, while improving health markers. It's the cardio that plays nicest with lifting.
Sold - a few 30-40 min easy sessions a week for recovery and heart health. Doesn't hurt the lifting, helps everything else. Thanks.