How Important is Cardio to Weight Loss?

rosestring

The question explains it all. I have seen all of these amazing results of people losing weight with just strength training. I am enjoying strength training more, anyway. Is doing cardio workouts kind of just like burning "extra calories" in addition to strength training? Does ST really help ramp up your metabolism?

Hendrix7

Is doing cardio workouts kind of just like burning "extra calories" in addition to strength training?

pretty much

I have tried cuts with 0 cardio and with cardio and have had much better results using some low intensity cardio. Not a huge amount, 20-30 mins 2/3 times per week, it's probably only giving me 300-500 extra burned calories over a week but that adds up over time.

I found sprints/HIIT interfered with my lifting too much.

ndj1979

100% unnecessary for weight loss.

eat in a deficit and keep lifting and you will lose. Now if you want to use cardio to increase your burns then you can, but it is not necessary.

I do about twenty minutes of cardio a week.

sijomial

Cardio isn't necessary for weight loss. Strength training isn't necessary for weight loss.
Strength training doesn't make much appreciable difference to your metabolism.

Both strength training and cardio are pretty essential for all round health, fitness and good body composition though.

And no cardio isn't just "burning extra calories" or you are seriously doing it wrong!

Quite apart from the fact you are supposed to be eating back exercise calories.....

999tigger

Exercise is not required for weight loss, just a calorific deficit.
I do both, in terms of cardio I think keeping my heart in good shape is important. They are different and complementary.

peterjens

Cardio is important to heart health. I'm no cardiologist but I think the law of diminishing returns applies to how much cardio we need. My cardio is my play time - racquetball, swimming, biking and hiking.

999tigger

peterjens wrote: »

Cardio is important to heart health. I'm no cardiologist but I think the law of diminishing returns applies to how much cardio we need. My cardio is my play time - racquetball, swimming, biking and hiking.

Wouldnt that be the same for exercise in general? It would depend what your goals were?

peterjens

Perhaps. I think you only need so much cardio to be heart-fit. Any additional cardio should be for the enjoyment of doing the movement or the social aspect if it's done with someone. Back to the OP, cardio is not required for weight loss.

999tigger

err no exercise is required for weight loss, just a deficit. Excercise including burning calories contributes to being at a calorific deficit. It might not be required for weight loss, but it has an impact, which is what the OP was interested in. Fitness is a different subject.

Jennloella

Only if you don't want to change your eating habits... cardio is good for giving you extra calories if you have a tough time maintaining a deficit. I eat about 2800 calories a day, run three times a week with some other cardio in when I can, and I lift 4 days a week. I'm in maintenance though... so no deficit.