Hey, I need help.

wknszshqnz687

Hi everyone
I'm in the process of losing weight and I'm having some difficulties.
I've been told that Pilates helps, but I learned today that I should add cardio to my routine. So if you have any advice for me.
Ps: I'm 24, my weight is 72 and my height is 1.72

yirara

Losing weight is 90% eating less and only 10% exercise. Thus get your diet under control. With that little to lose set your weightloss goal to 250gr - 1/4kg - half a pound per week, track your food intake properly, preferably with a scale, and practice patience.

tomcustombuilder

Cardio is more important with a sedentary lifestyle as it helps compensate for the lack of daily movement, however as mentioned above most of your fatloss will come from limiting overall weekly calories via diet.

AnnPT77

For other USAians like me, you're almost 5'8", and around 158 pounds. That's not very overweight. In fact, it's technically higher end of normal range (BMI 24.3). I'm not criticizing your weight loss desire when I say that, BTW.

Yirara is giving good advice: A quarter kilo weight loss (max) per week would be a good plan.

Cardio can be a huge variety of things, with varied benefits, depending on the type and intensity. Also, there are varied types of Pilates routines, with varied benefits though probably a narrower range of variation within Pilates than within cardio types.

Strength training is also important and useful (always), but probably extra important during weight loss (to preserve the maximum of current muscle tissue, and lose relatively more fat rather than muscle). Weight lifting is the most efficient strength exercise, though bodyweight exercises and some resistance band exercises are also good things. A few types of cardio may challenge strength enough to have strength/muscle benefits, but tend to be less efficient than any of the others just mentioned in terms of session length, frequency, calendar time to any particular strength goal.

As vast over-generalizations:

* Cardio tends to burn more calories per minute.
* Strength exercise is the best contributor to increasing strength and becoming what is called "toned".
* Pilates may be best for mobility and flexibility, but some types may have mild cardio or strength benefits. (Some types of cardio may also have mild mobility/flexibility benefits.)
* All of these can make contributions to strong bones and healthy aging, and 24 isn't too young to be thinking about that.

People will often tell you that whatever they personally do is universally best, because some people have a psychological need to feel that their personal choices are the very best choices of all. Be skeptical. (Asking here is a good start on skepticism, though I'm just a random idiot on the internet, and you should be skeptical of me, too. )

IMO, Pilates can be really good in various ways, but it isn't essential for weight loss, or universally better for weight loss.

On the exercise front, my advice would be to seek out some type of cardio you enjoy, and something that is a manageable challenge to your current strength, for starters.

Don't start everything all at once if you're a relative beginner to exercise. Start with very moderate cardio, maybe every other day, or with strength exercise on a similar schedule.

Rest days are where the magic - rebuilding stronger and healthier - happens. Overdoing is counterproductive for weight loss (because of cumulative fatigue) and for fitness (because rest/recovery is vital).

Wherever you start, shoot for a mild and manageable challenge, with good recovery time and overall good nutrition also in the plan. A few minutes of "whew" right after exercise is OK, but you should feel energized, not exhausted, for the rest of the day. That's the sweet spot.

As you get fitter - which you will, if consistent - what you're doing will come to feel easier. That's the time to add more duration, frequency, intensity or new exercise types, in order to keep a manageable challenge always in the picture.

On the cardio front, realize that cardio isn't just gym machines. If you like those, great. But there are other options: Walking, bike riding, many types of dance, physically active video or VR games, other games (pickleball, tennis, basketball, soccer, frisbee, and many more), swimming, some martial arts, water sports like canoeing/kayaking/rowing . . . I could go on for ages, but you get the idea. Anything that increases heart rate through increased oxygen consumption is cardio. Pick one(s) you enjoy.

Keep a slow weight loss rate (which realistically may take several weeks to show up clearly on the scale, especially with new exercise in the picture). Fast loss is inappropriate (risky) for someone your size, and under-fueling exercise limits fitness gains.

At 24, your best bet is to start on a solid path toward lifelong fitness at a healthy weight. That's hugely beneficial, but it takes patience. (How do I know? Well, for starters, I just turned 69. )

As others said, weight loss is all about calorie balance, the number of calories you eat compared to the number of calories you burn in all ways (just being alive, job and home chores, intentional exercise).

We could probably give you better advice about weight loss, if you were more specific about what you mean by "having some difficulties" with it. There are quite a variety of things that may feel difficult, but they don't all apply to everyone.

Best wishes for success!