Using a barbell for conditioning

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Is it acceptable to use a barbell (with weight on it) for conditioning? I am stuck with a partial home gym–barbell and plates arrived, rack hasn’t–and running for cardio in my neighborhood isn’t really a good option.

I remember a long time ago I experimented with ‘barbell complexes’ for conditioning. It felt a bit CrossFit-ish, and I ended up losing weight, gaining endurance, and losing a meaningful amount of strength. Not sure if this was just a bad idea, or if I did it wrong–ie, too much weight on the bar, etc. What’s your take?

2

I don’t think it’s a great idea to use a barbell for conditioning, as I would greatly prefer walking, cycling, jogging, or light calisthenics done for HIIT over barbell training. This is described in the How-To Exercise At Home article: https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog…rcise-at-home/