Do you NEED cardio to lose weight?

MamaOne13

Okay so a little about me.

I'm currently 4 months postpartum and am exclusively breastfeeding, which is said to burn 350-500 calories a day.
I eat about 2300 calories and am losing slowly on that amount.
I haven't consistently exercised since before I was pregnant but have found a program that I'm going to start following today that has me doing 6 short-ish lifting sessions a week.

I'm trying to lose a lb a week, since that's the highest safest amount to lose while breastfeeding.
My goal is to be 119-120 lbs by end of October. I'm currently 131.

Do you think this is an attainable goal? Do I need to add in cardio too?

RubyRed427

MamaOne13 wrote: »

Okay so a little about me.

I'm currently 4 months postpartum and am exclusively breastfeeding, which is said to burn 350-500 calories a day.
I eat about 2300 calories and am losing slowly on that amount.
I haven't consistently exercised since before I was pregnant but have found a program that I'm going to start following today that has me doing 6 short-ish lifting sessions a week.

I'm trying to lose a lb a week, since that's the highest safest amount to lose while breastfeeding.
My goal is to be 119-120 lbs by end of October. I'm currently 131.

Do you think this is an attainable goal? Do I need to add in cardio too?

Good morning! I have been going to a trainer for the last four weeks. When you are feeling better and healed, you should put cardio for 30-40 min but with hills. He said to me cardio works best if it's vigorous- like walking on hills...

So that makes sense! Wishing you well!

Mithridites

You don’t need cardio to lose weight. Just a consistent calorie deficit and persistence. Exercise can help make the deficit higher if you don’t eat back the exercise calories. Alternatively, it can allow more food consumption while maintaining the same deficit, if you do decide to eat back the exercise calories. The catch is, some people feel more hungry when they add in exercise, myself included. So it’s up to you to decide which of these three options is the most sustainable for you.

cmriverside

First - cardio is not needed to lose weight. It's all about calories.

With 10-12 pounds to lose, set your Goals to "Lose 1/2 pound per week."

That would be a healthy weight loss at your current weight. Any faster and you may not be able to stick to it, plus you're breastfeeding. Maybe talk to your ob/gyn about healthy rate of loss while breastfeeding.

spiriteagle99

You don't need exercise for weight loss. Just cutting calories will do that. Cardio exercise does burn calories, so will allow you to eat more than if you don't exercise, but it isn't a necessity for losing. Exercise is good for health and fitness. Cardio works your heart and lungs, so can help make you healthier. Weights will make you stronger and can help with your appearance.