cardio benefits?

cherriegh

I use cardio for warming up and down before strength training but what else does it do for body composition? Is it to create a calorie deficit or burning fat?
I already eat at a deficit below my TDEE and lift heavy so how wil it help for weight loss besides health reasons?

FullOfWin

Cardio is not a magic fat burner. It does not allow you to lose\keep off fat while gaining muscle. It burns calories like any other activity. If you are trying to lose fat you can do cardio or eat less food, either one. If you are trying to gain muscle, cardio will require that you eat more to gain it (along with hindering muscle recovery if overdone). As for general cardiovascular health, some would argue that it can be maintained just from hard and heavy barbell lifting. If you want to guarantee it, you can simply walk at ~3mph for 10-20 minutes twice per week.

More on cardio - http://www.simplyshredded.com/nutrition-expert-alan-aragon-talks-with-simplyshredded-com.html

cherriegh

thank you