Cardio doesn't help you lose weight...

poisongirl6485

I credit not gaining a pound on holiday to all the intense hours of walking and some jogging I did. Literally ate the most delicious, unhealthiest, large amounts of food in London for a week. I think I had sausage every morning the entire time I was there lol Did not gain an ounce and after it all I did not feel guilty. I have yet to make weights a full part of my workout and at that point hadn't lifted in about a month sooooooo I think the cardio was doing a great job at burning the calories and keeping that gain at bay. I will be adding weights but, I know cardio got me here.

I don't think "Intense" and "walking" belong in the same sentence.

summalovaable

Reading this thread has made my day so much better. Not much more information I could add. Other than to the op, obviously the person spreading that information was wrong. But not entirely.

Just because cardio helps create a deficit, and deficits burn fat, does not mean cardio directly burns fat. Personallly, I've had much more success with a combination of weights, HIIT, steady cardio and proper eating habits. Cardio's a waste of time for me . I'd rather be strong and toned, then the dreaded "skinny fat". I only do cardio because I know its good for me, or I need to study legally blond style. Plus, I can eat way more when trying to build muscle, always a plus for an ex fatty :laugh:

Oh, and before I get bombarded with posts.. maybe I should say this is in MY personal opinion :flowerforyou:

ckoudsi617

To whomever thinks cardio does not help one lose weight, I woud suggest they eat a "normal" (though reasonably controlled and nutritious) diet, drink 6-8 glasses of water per day, and take something like Zumba 1 hour classes, three times per week for two months; then report back how much weight you lost. For me, pounds and inches lost doing this were close to dramatic! Of course, everyone is different, I would just challenge those "cardio skeptics" to try it and see what happens! Cheers and best wishes!

Lizzy_Sunflower

Just because you prefer Cardio does not mean that weight lifting doesnt burn fat. AZackery Please do research before you give such strong, bold statements. Or say in your opinion.

If I only lift weights, how long will it take me to lose fat?

I suggest you read Body for Life or New Rules of Lifting for Women. I believe that the New Rules is a 9 week program if I remember correctly.

hollyhollyhollyhol

Warning that this is pretty tl;dr when it comes to placing things in the correct order, sorry I'm not very good with grammar;;

-- When it comes to weight loss, it's almost purely diet intake.
Or so, 70% diet, 30% excercise.
However, cardio and strength training go hand and hand.
Cardio is a fat burner yes, but strength training allows for lean muscle growth. Lean muscle speeds up you metabolism which allows you to burn the fat and then allows you to keep burning the fat even if you're doing something like sitting around.
Diet is the key in weight loss. The reason why so many people gain weight is because their foods are primarily acidic and fat is your body's way of protecting the stomach lining from acid. Reducing your intake on foods changes how much fat your body requires since you're taking away a lot of the acid that goes into your body, if you are to take acidic foods completely, you'd see much more dramatic results.
Remember also that there are 3,500 calories in a pound. Yeah you can exercise to your heart's content and lose weight, it does burn off a lot calories, though monitoring your intake on foods help ease the process of burning off calories.

AZackery

Cardio works just fine for me. Strength training will always be at the bottom of my list. A person has to do what they feel is right for their body.

poisongirl6485

Cardio works just fine for me. Strength training will always be at the bottom of my list. A person has to do what they feel is right for their body.

So how much weight have you lost recently on this cardio-only plan?

AZackery

I suggest you read Body for Life or New Rules of Lifting for Women. I believe that the New Rules is a 9 week program if I remember correctly.

I'm not going to read the book, but thank you anyway.

alyssamiller77

Wow, this is amazing to me that we've got this long of a thread on this. Look the facts are simple, you lose fat and weight by burning more energy (calories) than you take in. Cardio exercise burns more energy, so does heavy weight training, so does walking your dog, having sex, or cleaning your house. Now each activity has different energy needs but at the end of the day activities you do will cause your body to use more energy.

Now of course Diet is a key here. Again it doesn't matter how much energy you burn off each day if you're taking in more calories than your body requires. So your diet has to work with your exercise program and overall daily expenditure. It's not rocket science folks, it's actually quite simple.

Brensweeney

Bottom line, you lose weight if you burn more than you take in. So that would mean any exercise. Some exercise burns more calories than others. I do a cardio class followed by circuit training. I think the cardio (in my case Zumba or spinning) burns calories and the circuit training tones, burns and strenghtens. Just my opinion and I am getting results.

Barneystinson

Just because you prefer Cardio does not mean that weight lifting doesnt burn fat. AZackery Please do research before you give such strong, bold statements. Or say in your opinion.

If I only lift weights, how long will it take me to lose fat?

I suggest you read Body for Life or New Rules of Lifting for Women. I believe that the New Rules is a 9 week program if I remember correctly.

It's roughly 6-7 months if you follow the phases in the book as prescribed.

Gradual increases in weights, Lifts that develop in complexity. I got through about 3 months of it and decided to change over to Stronglifts 5x5 because I enjoy simplicity

Teaeli

The truth is-muscle burns fat! Cardio alone will not be as beneficial to weight loss as weight training added in. You do not need to lift weights to do this. Pilates is a great for muscle and strength building! So is yoga. I would definitely add in some sort of muscle building exercise. You will see results that you will not see with running alone. I hear so many women who are afraid of "bulking up". This will not happen to women! We do not have the testosterone to bulk up. You will get lean and toned and sexy by adding weight training to your cardio routine.

eve7166

It is NOT that cardio does not help you lose weight...of course being active will ALWAYS help you lose weight...I think a lot of people who say this are not informed correctly or do not really know how to explain it...

Muscle burns more calories then fat...so having more muscle means you are burning more calories even if you are just sitting..so yes you need to make sure you are building muscles as well as losing fat...

Cardio MIGHT make you lose fat AND muscle... so in the long term you are not as healthy..it is better to mix both. CArdio to help now and build a little muscle for later and of course no one wants to be flabby..


To help to do it correct (Yes i use to be fit before ).. do a little warm up 15 min cardio....then weights (girls unless you use hormons you will NOT get big)..or calisthenics (sit ups,push ups, pilates, yoga) ...and then do cardio (atleast 1 hour)..

Hope this helps.

superdrood

the "after-burn" for cario does not last that long (usually 1-4 hours, longer with HIIT), the "after-burn" for strength training is the 24-48 hours as your body repairs the damaged caused from lifting.

I don't agree with this. I can do a Tae Bo workout on a Monday and not workout for a few days afterwards and still feel the workout.

That is probably because you are not in very good shape.

I disagree. Am I a big girl? Yes, I am. But, I'm no rookie to intense workouts. I have been doing Tae Bo off and on, since 1998. Strength training has it's place, but it will never be better than cardio to me.

I mean no disrespect but do you not see the irony of the fact that you are a self proclaimed big girl arguing about the fat loss benefits of various exercise types with some incredibly lean and fit members of this community? :noway:

RonSwanson66

I suggest you read Body for Life or New Rules of Lifting for Women. I believe that the New Rules is a 9 week program if I remember correctly.

I'm not going to read the book, but thank you anyway.

Heaven forbid your pollute your mind with something that might actually contain useful information.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I think of it this way.
Any time you have a true caloric deficit under your BMR (so we’re talking strictly properly functioning systems here to take all the exceptions like long term starvation mode out of the equation) you’re going to have weight loss. Cardio burns hot and fast, the after burn lasts a short time only at the end of the workout. Creating a caloric deficit uses all types of energy sources to fuel the body’s function including fats, sugars, and proteins. While in weight loss mode you can decrease the % of this weight loss attributed to lean mass by coupling it with weight training. Strength training burns less during a lifting session, but the after burn lasts a longer period of time once the exercise session is complete.

Tujitsu56

Haha, I don't even understand why anyone is arguing with you. Cardio works for you right? You burn more calories than you consume so you are loosing weight right? Well great job and keep doing what you are doing. People are just trying to help others understand that in the end, the caloric deficit is most imporant as you need to govern your intake vs your usage. Strength training will increase your usage, but cardio will also burn calories (which is usage also).

Cardio works just fine for me. Strength training will always be at the bottom of my list. A person has to do what they feel is right for their body.

LeeKetty1176

Eat Less

move more

this message was brought to you by lee kettlewell... know it all big head

erickirb

I think of it this way.
Any time you have a true caloric deficit under your BMR (so we’re talking strictly properly functioning systems here to take all the exceptions like long term starvation mode out of the equation) you’re going to have weight loss. Cardio burns hot and fast, the after burn lasts a short time only at the end of the workout. Creating a caloric deficit uses all types of energy sources to fuel the body’s function including fats, sugars, and proteins. While in weight loss mode you can decrease the % of this weight loss attributed to lean mass by coupling it with weight training. Strength training burns less during a lifting session, but the after burn lasts a longer period of time once the exercise session is complete.

I think you may be confusing BMR and maintenance. You don't have to eat under your BMR to lose weight, it is actually suggested that you don't eat less than your BMR if you don't have a lot to lose. Eating under your maintenance calories will cause you to lose weight, and BMR is lower than your maintenance.

CaptainGordo

Cardio works just fine for me. Strength training will always be at the bottom of my list. A person has to do what they feel is right for their body.

Haha, I don't even understand why anyone is arguing with you. Cardio works for you right? You burn more calories than you consume so you are loosing weight right? Well great job and keep doing what you are doing. People are just trying to help others understand that in the end, the caloric deficit is most imporant as you need to govern your intake vs your usage. Strength training will increase your usage, but cardio will also burn calories (which is usage also).

The argument arose because she claims that weight training will make one "bulky" and will not burn calories.

This happens every time. :noway:

cheeksv

I credit not gaining a pound on holiday to all the intense hours of walking and some jogging I did. Literally ate the most delicious, unhealthiest, large amounts of food in London for a week. I think I had sausage every morning the entire time I was there lol Did not gain an ounce and after it all I did not feel guilty. I have yet to make weights a full part of my workout and at that point hadn't lifted in about a month sooooooo I think the cardio was doing a great job at burning the calories and keeping that gain at bay. I will be adding weights but, I know cardio got me here.

I don't think "Intense" and "walking" belong in the same sentence.

Maybe not intense like speed walking 24/ 7 but, Intense or excess amounts that is for sure. We spent 6 hours walking just one day alone. After a week? I think that is a little intense....even if it is just a little

Tujitsu56

I know, so why argue? If someone is seeing results, regardless of whether they completely understand why, then there is no need to argue with them. Spread the correct information to those who don't understand and let them digest it. It's up to them to research and verify what information is correct. It's also up to them to believe.

Cardio works just fine for me. Strength training will always be at the bottom of my list. A person has to do what they feel is right for their body.

Haha, I don't even understand why anyone is arguing with you. Cardio works for you right? You burn more calories than you consume so you are loosing weight right? Well great job and keep doing what you are doing. People are just trying to help others understand that in the end, the caloric deficit is most imporant as you need to govern your intake vs your usage. Strength training will increase your usage, but cardio will also burn calories (which is usage also).

The argument arose because she claims that weight training will make one "bulky" and will not burn calories.

This happens every time. :noway:

juscallmeb

well wait a minute.. you mean to tell me that people are all different, and what works for one person doesn't work for another?
no way! i'm baffled. :noway:

kmbrooks15

the "after-burn" for cario does not last that long (usually 1-4 hours, longer with HIIT), the "after-burn" for strength training is the 24-48 hours as your body repairs the damaged caused from lifting.

I don't agree with this. I can do a Tae Bo workout on a Monday and not workout for a few days afterwards and still feel the workout.

You probably feel it because Tae Bo, while technically cardio, involves the use of many muscles to maintain your balance and to do the moves properly. So it is really a cardio AND strength workout combined.

superdrood

I suggest you read Body for Life or New Rules of Lifting for Women. I believe that the New Rules is a 9 week program if I remember correctly.

I'm not going to read the book, but thank you anyway.

Heaven forbid your pollute your mind with something that might actually contain useful information.

:laugh: Please do not ever stop with the pictorial responses Ronswanson. Ever! :laugh:

mustangpg

Have you ever tried a boot camp style workout? I love those the best. Lifting weights in a gym bores me to tears, but this style workout I love. It mixes resistance training and cardio, which saves time.

mustangpg

Cardio works just fine for me. Strength training will always be at the bottom of my list. A person has to do what they feel is right for their body.

Have you ever tried a boot camp style workout? I love those the best. Lifting weights in a gym bores me to tears, but this style workout I love. It mixes resistance training and cardio, which saves time.


OOPS!! I forgot the quote thingie! Sorry for the repeat post. :sad:

cessnaholly

Bump

SDkitty

well wait a minute.. you mean to tell me that people are all different, and what works for one person doesn't work for another?
no way! i'm baffled. :noway:

^^ Ha HA!

heathersmilez

This isn't news, why are you shocked? We all know 80% of weight loss is nutrition that's why you can lose weight without ever exercising. Exercise is good for the heart/body, helps increase weight lost, builds muscle and helps break through a plateau after months of controlled healthy eating. If you don't fix what you eat then I hope you enjoy spending 10-20 hours a week in the gym burning it off; what a waist of time and bad for your body (nutritionally and your joints).