Why bother with cardio?

emergencytennis

I have read numerous times that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I have also read that weight loss involves losing muscle mass along with the fat, which is bad.

Given all that, why bother with huge amounts of huffing and puffing on the cross-trainer? Can't we just eat healthy, lift some weights and jog a couple of times a week?

lawtechie

What do you think jogging is? Jogging IS cardio. Cross training is just a more efficient way (less time, etc.).

Oh and after a while your body gets used to do the same thing, and you'll burn less calories. Mixing it up keeps your body/muscles from getting 'bored' and in turn you continue to burn more calories.

katyclev

jogging a couple of times IS cardio

Sidesteal

Can't we just eat healthy, lift some weights and jog a couple of times a week?

I think jogging a couple times per week constitutes cardio (it's more cardio than I do, that's for sure), but I don't mean to dwell on semantics.

I think the above is a solid plan.

Justjoshin

How many of these threads can there be each week? 100? 200?

CakeFit21

Given all that, why bother with huge amounts of huffing and puffing on the cross-trainer? Can't we just eat healthy, lift some weights and jog a couple of times a week?

Sounds good to me. Although, the jogging IS cardio....

Jennloella

well if you're exercising/eating properly you shouldn't be burning off muscle!! Plus exercise gives you what diet cannot: improved cardio and respiratory health. But, if you just want to diet and you're happy with the results then do it!

luvinlaurakate

I think the percentage is way off, cause I know that I have tried losing by just eating healthy many times and have never been able to. And weight loss itself, ya you could say that, but to do it correctly you want to build up some muscle along with losing the fat, or you are just going to be incredibly weak and skinny.

Just a quick search brought up these reasons that cardio is good for you:

•Weight loss
•Stronger heart and lungs
•Increased bone density
•Reduced stress
•Reduced risk of heart disease and some types of cancer
•Temporary relief from depression and anxiety
•More confidence about how you feel and how you look
•Better sleep
•More energy

Jennloella

How many of these threads can there be each week? 100? 200?

you mean the "why do I have to work to lose weight?" threads?

bjshields

Well, your heart & lungs, first off, need it. Cardio heads off depression, because it releases endorphins (happy hormones) into your body. It also works to hep reduce blood sugars. You are absolutely RIGHT, exercise unfortunately is a sucky way to fend off obesity, and eating well is the BEST way to do it. However, you NEED cardio for other things!! Good luck to you.

redraidergirl2009

Cardio= heart health

Sure skip if you don't want to be healthy but just want to lose weight

bcattoes

I don't believe that weight loss is 80% diet. At least it never has been for me. If I stop doing regular cardio exercise I gain weight. When I start back up I lose the weight and stay thin. I wish it was more diet because finding time to eat is not a problem. Finding time for exercise is.

Gee45

To get fit! Short on time, do a harder workout and burn about the same calories as a lighter workout twice as long.
And I don't mind being able to eat more because of it either.

emergencytennis

How many of these threads can there be each week? 100? 200?

I haven't read a thread suggesting that cardio is redundant this week. You could prove me wrong.

LuckyLeprechaun

I lost the majority of my weight just by adjusting my diet. I barely exercise, and for a year, all the exercise I EVER did was a 15 minute walk with my dogs. Contrary to chicken little's predictions, I did not lose all my muscles, and I did keep on losing.

I now do elliptical because it's easier to create a calorie deficit by burning rather than restricting now. And it feels good to get all sweaty.

engineman312

this is definetly 80% nutrition. i tell ppl that money they are thinking about spending on an Heart Rate Monitor and a personal trainer, would be better spent on a food scale and nutritionist.

emergencytennis

well if you're exercising/eating properly you shouldn't be burning off muscle!! Plus exercise gives you what diet cannot: improved cardio and respiratory health. But, if you just want to diet and you're happy with the results then do it!

From what I have read on here the body needs to burn protein as well as fat when it is in a calorie deficit. That means that a certain amount of muscle is burnt with the fat. Some people can maintain muscle mass by weight training in a calorie deficit, but they are overweight to begin with.

catherine4211

After I had my first baby I was only exercising. Didn't change my diet. Didn't lose a pound. My doctor told me if I wasn't going to change what I ate to not even bother with the exercise. I can't say I totally agree with this but he had a good point. I do believe food is the main contributor to losing. God I hope I spelled contributor correct

emergencytennis

What do you think jogging is? Jogging IS cardio. Cross training is just a more efficient way (less time, etc.).

Oh and after a while your body gets used to do the same thing, and you'll burn less calories. Mixing it up keeps your body/muscles from getting 'bored' and in turn you continue to burn more calories.

Fair point, and all the people who have posted subsequently.

I intended to contrast 40 minutes jogging a week (my absolute max) with the cardio efforts I see people mentioning on here. 3 hours a week kind of stuff.

MB_Positif

Well, your heart & lungs, first off, need it. Cardio heads off depression, because it releases endorphins (happy hormones) into your body. It also works to hep reduce blood sugars. You are absolutely RIGHT, exercise unfortunately is a sucky way to fend off obesity, and eating well is the BEST way to do it. However, you NEED cardio for other things!! Good luck to you.

This is a perfect answer

emergencytennis

I don't believe that weight loss is 80% diet. At least it never has been for me. If I stop doing regular cardio exercise I gain weight. When I start back up I lose the weight and stay thin. I wish it was more diet because finding time to eat is not a problem. Finding time for exercise is.

I reckon the 80-20 is a generalisation, but it is one which is widely promulgated.

lauralikes

IMO, cardio is the best!!! it's a great way to kill time and take your mind off of food, it suppresses your appetite for a good hour, it releases endorphins and boosts self-confidence. I have a huge list on my wall and i read it every time I go work out!

emergencytennis

I lost the majority of my weight just by adjusting my diet. I barely exercise, and for a year, all the exercise I EVER did was a 15 minute walk with my dogs. Contrary to chicken little's predictions, I did not lose all my muscles, and I did keep on losing.

I now do elliptical because it's easier to create a calorie deficit by burning rather than restricting now. And it feels good to get all sweaty.

Me too. I played tennis twice a week lifted twice a week and to lose weight I ate less pies et al.

emergencytennis

After I had my first baby I was only exercising. Didn't change my diet. Didn't lose a pound. My doctor told me if I wasn't going to change what I ate to not even bother with the exercise. I can't say I totally agree with this but he had a good point. I do believe food is the main contributor to losing. God I hope I spelled contributor correct

Sista. And yes.

emergencytennis

To get fit! Short on time, do a harder workout and burn about the same calories as a lighter workout twice as long.
And I don't mind being able to eat more because of it either.

Your answer is about weight loss, not about fitness. Weight loss depends far more upon what you eat than what you do.

emergencytennis

How many of these threads can there be each week? 100? 200?

you mean the "why do I have to work to lose weight?" threads?

My question was not about why do I have to work to lose weight. It was about why do I have to kill myself with cardio. Can't I just eat a calorie deficit and lift weights?

patriciaachish

why bother with huge amounts of huffing and puffing on the cross-trainer? Can't we just eat healthy, lift some weights and jog a couple of times a week?

because compared to jogging a couple of times a week than huffing and puffing on the cross trainer, you'll lose fat much faster with that than doing the latter...

eating healthy wont burn your fats, it'll just maintain your fat levels and not add more... therefore you need more cardio if you've got lots of fats to burn and a little bit of weights and lots of protein to make up for the minimal wasted muscle...

patriciaachish

why do I have to kill myself with cardio. Can't I just eat a calorie deficit and lift weights?

eating a calorie deficit (less than 1200 cal a day) will not help you lose fats and that's not healthy eating either...

emergencytennis

why bother with huge amounts of huffing and puffing on the cross-trainer? Can't we just eat healthy, lift some weights and jog a couple of times a week?

because compared to jogging a couple of times a week than huffing and puffing on the cross trainer, you'll lose fat much faster with that than doing the latter...

eating healthy wont burn your fats, it'll just maintain your fat levels and not add more... therefore you need more cardio if you've got lots of fats to burn and a little bit of weights and lots of protein to make up for the minimal wasted muscle...

This is not what I have learned from this site. What I have learned is that weight loss is hugely dependent upon diet, my body burns muscle in order to burn fat, and a slow weight loss combined with weight training is better than a quick weight loss due to radical cardio.

SarabellPlus3

I don't believe that weight loss is 80% diet. At least it never has been for me. If I stop doing regular cardio exercise I gain weight. When I start back up I lose the weight and stay thin. I wish it was more diet because finding time to eat is not a problem. Finding time for exercise is.

Yep, me too.

Someone said "weight is 80% diet, 20% work," yes, someone said that, and it's oft repeated. I think reality, though, is "calories in, and calories out." Well, diet is "calories in", and movement is for the most part "calories out." MOVING, cardio, weights, is how you change that part of the equation. So for someone who doesn't move much, maybe it's only 20%. For someone really active, it's a higher percentage, it just depends how you run the show.

Also, I'm not in this to look prettier (though that's a nice bonus). I'm in this to be strong and healthy. I COULD only eat 1000 calories, and lay on the couch weak and atrophied, but 'skinny' (well, skinny-fat). But why would I WANT to?

Savemyshannon

Yes, you can technically lose weight just by watching what you eat. As long as your caloric intake is lower than your caloric output, you will lose weight.

HOWEVER, the point of cardio is to increase the strength of your heart. Your heart, like your biceps or quads, is a muscle. The more you use that muscle (increasing your heart rate for 30-60 minutes via cardio), the stronger it becomes. By strengthening your heart, you decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other nasty business as well as increase your overall health--the better your heart works, the more efficiently blood (with fresh oxygen) can circulate, which in turn means your muscles and cells are better oxygenated, which makes your entire body feel better, more energized, and overall healthier.