Several people on this site have been saying that doing lots of cardio is bad.
Altagracia220
Posts: 876 Member
Why is this? if you are burning calories and fat, wouldn't this be a good thing?
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It's a very good thing. But people don't usually like it because they think it's too hard
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You're burning calories, but not doing anything to keep (or increase) your lean mass. Many people end up reaching their goal weight and realize that they still don't like the way they look because of the lack of muscle.
More experienced people will elaborate further, I'm sure0 -
Depends on the definition of lots.0
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Iron_Feline wrote: »Depends on the definition of lots.
4-6 times weekly.0 -
cardio is good only if you truly enjoy it. You do lose weight but definitely the hard way.
Alternating days of HIIT with weight training will get you in shape so much faster.0 -
My experience with this was when I first started training for triathlon. First mistake was overestimating my burns by instinct and gaining weight because of sheer hunger.
Next mistake, cutting too fast while in about -20% deficit and losing my lean body mass. The body can only burn body fat so fast then it turns to other things. Result skinny fat.
I've since turned things around and learned to bulk and cut around my training seasons. I also know exactly what I need to reach my goals and when to do it. Result 15% body fat and great fitness.0 -
Iron_Feline wrote: »Depends on the definition of lots.
4-6 times weekly.
for how long?
It's probably not too much - but you might want to look into some strength training to help preserve your lean muscle mass0 -
Cardio is great for burning calories giving you more to eat -yay! But it's not necessary for weight loss, that comes from having a calorie deficit. Lifting weights while losing weight helps you to retain lean muscle mass so you look more "toned" (hate that word but it gets the point across) when you get to your goal weight.
I personally do both.0 -
I don't think you're doing too much cardio. If you enjoy it, and its working for you, I wouldn't suggest stopping because of what people here say. If you want to try lifting, I think that's a good thing too. I just don't think its the be all end all for every single person who comes to MFP. Different strokes and all that.0
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So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!0 -
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
IKR0 -
Well, why do you do it?snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
Well, why do you do it?0 -
I do a lot of cardio (2 hours 3-4 days a week alternating with 80 minutes the other 3-4 days a week), I do weights on the 80 minute days. The amount of cardio I'm doing is because I'm training for a 12K (in May), and a half marathon in October. If the amount of cardio you are doing is something sustainable and that you aren't creating to high of a calorie deficit your fine.0
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Well, why do you do it?snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
Well, why do you do it?
To get stronger...
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Well, why do you do it?snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
Well, why do you do it?
To make moving through my day-to-day life easier. To try to prevent osteoperosis. To increase strength for other exercises like running. To look GOOD, but not necessarily buff. To de-stress after a hard day at work. Just to name a few.0 -
LOL - "cardio ==> bad"
I'm logging 51 miles this week. As we get closer to Spring Marathon Season that will rise to 70-80 miles a week when the two long runs a week go big-miles. Many folks would call that "excess".
Look at my profile pic.
Does that look like "cardio is bad"? Do i look "skinny fat"? Am I missing muscles that the cardio somehow ate? Does it look like I need to lift (I don't lift) to look "toned"? Does it look like age is eating my lean muscle mass (I'm 45).
Nope to all of the above. Just an old, formerly fat, now skinny, well toned, small built but well muscled distance runner.
Do all the cardio you like and don't listen to the Neurotic Dieter WooWoo.
Cardio isn't bad... and I cant believe there is such a thing as "too much cardio".
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Well, why do you do it?snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
Well, why do you do it?
a) To get stronger.
b) Because I like it.
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See, "lots of cardio" is not bad unless you start it suddenly or increase it substantially risking an overuse injury. It is also bad if you don't eat enough to fuel it. Maybe that's where you got confused by other people's comments.0
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Because cardio isn't as trendy as lifting is, at least not on MFP, so cardio hate gets regurgitated whenever possible.0
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Iron_Feline wrote: »Iron_Feline wrote: »Depends on the definition of lots.
4-6 times weekly.
for how long?
It's probably not too much - but you might want to look into some strength training to help preserve your lean muscle mass
That^^^
Too much isn't right. It's all dependent on your goals. You might have someone that runs 20 miles a week and it's fine for his goals and lifestyle. Me personally I don't think I could physically run 20 miles per week and if I don't I am 100% sure it would impact my recovery between strength training sessions. So for me 20 miles a week = bad. For another guy maybe it's good.
This absolutely this
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snarlingcoyote wrote: »Well, why do you do it?snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
Well, why do you do it?
To maximize performance in various sports, create balance, strength, power....cyclist lift, tennis player lift...0 -
It's not bad, especially if you enjoy it. I ran that much and more training for a half marathon. What is bad is feeling like you have to spend every waking moment on the treadmill working off the food you ate.
Strength training is also extremely beneficial.0 -
Honestly I think people become obsessive with cardio that is "going nowhere." Before I get attacked, I think that if your goal is to run marathons or do triathlons, then by all means do all the cardio you need to train for that. When someone is doing 3 hours a day on the elliptical for the sake of burning calories, I don't get it.
For the record I don't really do any cardio other than playing sports and goofing around with my son. I lift for the sake of getting stronger (let me tell you, I felt like a rock star when I was able to easily pick up and install our window unit air conditioners last year with no struggle at all even after my husband said, "that one is heavy." I lift because I love it. I lift because I like muscles. I have a lot of friends who lift that do not look like me. There are many reasons to lift besides getting huge.0 -
snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
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crystalflame wrote: »snarlingcoyote wrote: »Well, why do you do it?snarlingcoyote wrote: »So long as you do enough to preserve your lean muscle mass as you age, you're fine. The only other reason to lift weights is to look like you're buff.
Personally, I'm happy with the look of my legs when I run and don't really care about having big guns. . .
If you're happy with the look of your body and like the exercise you're getting, I think you're fine!
What? Sorry but you're wrong there.
So besides muscle retention every person that lifts weights is in it to look buff?
Well, why do you do it?
To make moving through my day-to-day life easier. To try to prevent osteoperosis. To increase strength for other exercises like running. To look GOOD, but not necessarily buff. To de-stress after a hard day at work. Just to name a few.
On the first three reasons - that's maintaining lean muscle mass, which is crucial as we get older. No arguments on me there! I apologize if you don't like the word "buff", but you've said, you do it to look good, so that's just semantics. As for de-stressing, ahhh! Go you! If you've got something that makes you feel good, go for it. That's why I run!
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