I already spend 1-2 hours daily(minus rest days) @ the gym(cardio & lifting). Even then I still have time to get home and plant my butt on the couch and watch the shows I've missed on Tivo. I've been contemplating getting a recumbent exercise bike so that while I'm watching TV for those 3-4 hours I'd put it on the easiest mode and just pedal away as I watch. Is this harmful to my body or is this actually a good idea, maybe somewhere in between? The workout of course would be really light, almost effortless but the purpose is to burn about 200 calories/hour more than if I were sitting. I've read that light cardio like this burns up mostly fat so this could be more of a good thing?

Yes, but extensive low intensity cardio (LISS) will enevtually start to burn muscle aswell - this is roughly about 1hr in.

But because of the low low intensity, it could be a completly different matter altogether.

It won't hurt anything but I can't see much purpose to it either.

I don't understand why someone would wanna do hours of low intensity cardio vs. 30 mins of intense interval cardio, or HIIT sessions.

its one thing if your cardio is fasted, first thing int he morning...yeah, keep it slower.
but that doesn't sound like you.
you're spending 2 hours a day exercising...and apparently not meeting your goals since you wanna train 2 more hours watching tv.

I think you're doing too much, probably not eating right, and that's why you're not getting anywhere, and more slow cardio isn't gonna improve things.

you need to get detailed for us on your weight sessions, and daily diet.

It would be more beneficial to do more intense cardio sessions. However, if you know that just isn't going to happen, and you are going to spend some time sitting there watching tv regardless, then I would say that it doesn't hurt to do some longer low intensity cardio while watching the boob tube (although I don't know if 3-4 hours is a great idea).

Of course it isn't as helpful as high intensity workouts, but it's better than sitting in an almost comatose trance for hours on end too.

I see both sides here, but I am going to join the "Why Do It??" team. Here's why: I think after a certain time your body will adapt to this light movement and start to assume it is part of your BMR.

In plain English: I think this will be counter-productive for you in a few weeks. You'd be better off having one focus workout session per day (with a day or two of rest).

cardio should progress the same as weights progress read this.
http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do...dra?id=1096984

dont think that link is working try this.
Testosterone Nation - Cardio Progressions

interesting article - thanks buzz!