How important is cardio anyway?

fenrirG

Hi all, I was just wondering if you could give some advice on cardio.
I have been eating really clean for a month now and have already started seeing great results. I have been working out (fairly religiously) for years now. I think I finally understand the "diet" aspect of it and have started seeing what works for my body/routine. I am on a low carb "diet" that I think I can maintain for the rest of my life. I wanted to get abs by June this year and have already started to see 2 of them showing up.

My question was, how important is cardio? I weight-train 5-6 days a week. I take almost no rest between sets/exercies and I train hard. What I am lazy at is cardio. I just simply dont.like.doing.cardio. I've tried to push my self into doing it, but I just dont seem to like it. Given that I am starting to see results, how important is cardio? Will clean eating and weight training alone absolutely not help in getting my body fat down in future? I am currently at around 18% body fat, down from 23% 3 months ago.

fenrirG

Bump

neanderthin

Heart health is important and no reason to not to some cardio. With low carb, try higher intesity interval training, works well. I lift weight primarily ,but I play hockey twice a week all year and I do my fast pased walk around the pond....about 30 minutes once or twice on the weekends. Cardio is good for stamina as well.

cyncetastic

I dont see cardio as being extremely important for your physique if you're concerned with looks alone. You'll continue to build muscle and lose fat with weights - guys are lucky that way. But like the other person said, cardio is great for your heart and even if you're not doing it every gym session, it's probably good to work in from time to time.

juliexiuu

I'm really no expert... but

Your nutrition is the most important thing of course.

If you eat enough protein and lift weights, you will have a higher chance of losing more fat than muscle.

If you are currently unhealthy, you may want to do some cardio to help build your cardiovascular system.
It strengthens the heart and lungs, lowers blood pressure, helps you lose fat, promotes better sleep, etc...

Sidesteal

My question was, how important is cardio?

There are health benefits but it's not critical for body composition if your goal is to get abs. I would assume that if you want to approach contest-lean, it will become increasingly desirable/important. I was able to reach near 10% without any, and I'm no special snowflake, so to speak.

I weight-train 5-6 days a week. I take almost no rest between sets/exercies and I train hard.

Unless you're under a time crunch, you may eventually want to reconsider the above as it could effect your ability to progress in weight (the not resting part).

Will clean eating and weight training alone absolutely not help in getting my body fat down in future? I am currently at around 18% body fat, down from 23% 3 months ago.

Eating at a deficit with weight training and adequate protein intake will get your bodyfat% down regardless of cardio activity. However, eating clean has nothing to do with this.

lizard053

Actually, the rest between sets when lifting is equally important as the lifting! Just so you know. You'll be able to lift more with better form in the long run.

As for cardio, it's very important for physical fitness, and all over cardiovascular health. Hence the name, cardiovascular exercise! :bigsmile:

I'm being a little bit of a wise gal here, so please forgive. I'm in one of those moods...

Congrats on getting in all those workouts! That's awesome that you've made the time in your life for them. I'm on a low carb diet for life too. I just don't do well with a lot of carbs! Just a fact of life.

ajelove

You could probably throw in 2-3 HIIT sessions on the treadmill (or outdoors) before you lift weights. I hate cardio as well...so I just alternate sprinting and a slow jog. Even 10 minutes of high intensity should help health wise and BF% too.

fenrirG

It is true that I could use cardio for a good heart/oxygen intake. Especially considering I have asthma running in the family. Hmm, I'll add 10 mins of cardio before workouts everyday and see if I eventually get motivated to do more.

As for not taking breaks, I meant that I almost exclusively do super sets on unrelated muscles.. Like Back & Calfs or Legs and forearms... and throw in an ab exercises everywhere. I mix up a lot and I know my form is good on all exercises. It really works for me, I think I am out of air after an exercise but I almost always manage to unrelated muscles almost as well immediately.

Anyway, I digress. Guess you guys are right, need to look after the heart too

Mojofiendish

Cardio is hugely important to your overall health & wellbeing (obviously!). Your heart is a muscle so why wouldn't you want to work it out? You won't be able to sustain indefinate weight training if you don't look after your heart. : )