cardio is pointless in my opinion
Replies
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I have been doing nothing but cardio for the past three years and have yet to lose any weight. In fact, I have gained. I started with a trainer this week and he has me warm up for a lap on a treadmill, but stresses strength/resistance training. After I work out for an hour doing dry land, he has me swim for an hour and a half for the cardio benefits.
I truly believe cario has some awesome health benefits, but you can't lose weight with cardio alone!!!
My first 50 lbs was lost with healthy eating and just Cardio. It wasn't until I hit that 50 that I started with Strength training. Everyone's body is different.0 -
What the point of increasing the size of your muscle? How will that help anyone? It's not directly related strength.
What sports do you participate in where muscle size is important for your sport?
Muscle size is directly related to strength, and for the people saying “cardio is good for your cardiovascular health” are not awear that any type of exercise is good for your cardiovascular health.
Just because cardio starts with the word cardio, doesn’t imply that it is the only exercise good for your “heart”
and just because your "cardiologist " says its good, doesnt mean isnt written in stone. cardio is ok, but people have died doing cardio and as well as people that have not died doing cardio. such black statements as "my doc says this, so it must be this and all other possible answers are wrong" is just stupid
Not true. You can gain strength without increasing the size of your muscles. (If you are in a calorie deficit)0 -
I can burn more calories in the same amount of time doing cardio then lifting weights. Plus, I love what the stair master can do to my glutes. Love the type of burn it offers and bet your bottom dollar it helps me with endurance.0
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I love to lift, but I also love to box and play sports. I'll do both and just stay happy overall.0
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Please don't feed the obviously deranged, knife wielding, burqa wearing troll. Thank you!0
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What the point of increasing the size of your muscle? How will that help anyone? It's not directly related strength.
What sports do you participate in where muscle size is important for your sport?
Muscle size is directly related to strength, and for the people saying “cardio is good for your cardiovascular health” are not awear that any type of exercise is good for your cardiovascular health.
Just because cardio starts with the word cardio, doesn’t imply that it is the only exercise good for your “heart”
and just because your "cardiologist " says its good, doesnt mean isnt written in stone. cardio is ok, but people have died doing cardio and as well as people that have not died doing cardio. such black statements as "my doc says this, so it must be this and all other possible answers are wrong" is just stupid
im pretty sure kayaking and cycling is cardio
yes, i do them bc i enjoy them and not bc i am trying to create a defecit to lose weight, i only do it on the weekends when it doesnt rain
so your suggesting overweight people should just strength train, and never do cardio?
Unless it's raining.
Rainy days are for lifting?
And I love how the OP has an excuse for his own cardio. He must like doing pointless things.
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Cardio fitness really helps in sexytimes. I do anything for my body that helps naked sports.0
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Why does it have to be an either/or question? Strength training and lifting improves metabolism long term as muscle is more thermogenic than fat. Strength training and lifting also improve bone density. Cardiovascular improves heart function, hence the reason it is called Cardiovascular. Cardio=heart in latin, vascular=veins. Improved heart function improves lung function and endurance.
Sure, you can lose weight doing just one or the other, but then you miss out on other health benefits. Just like we focus on balanced nutrition we should also focus on balanced fitness. Not everyone can join a gym or buy weights, but everyone can go out for a walk, take the stairs, and other cardiovascular exercises. Form matters much more in strength training to prevent injury, not everyone can develop good form without a trainer.
I think instead of criticizing people who are focused on one over the other people should understand that everyone's abilities and resources are different and anything that leads to weight loss and healthier lifestyle should be applauded.
I agree with this guy. I do both and I think people should do what they enjoy and stop worrying about other people.0 -
LOL When someone says that cardio is pointless but are out there doing it anyway, they don't really know from experience whether it is or isn't.
Frankly, I could diet till the cows come home but if I don't add cardio to the diet, I won't lose anything. My job's sedentary so I need to burn calories somehow. I do some strength and resistance stuff too. You're welcome to think of it any way that you want but I'll keep including it into my life because it works for me and I enjoy it.0 -
Why does it have to be an either/or question? Strength training and lifting improves metabolism long term as muscle is more thermogenic than fat. Strength training and lifting also improve bone density. Cardiovascular improves heart function, hence the reason it is called Cardiovascular. Cardio=heart in latin, vascular=veins. Improved heart function improves lung function and endurance.
Sure, you can lose weight doing just one or the other, but then you miss out on other health benefits. Just like we focus on balanced nutrition we should also focus on balanced fitness. Not everyone can join a gym or buy weights, but everyone can go out for a walk, take the stairs, and other cardiovascular exercises. Form matters much more in strength training to prevent injury, not everyone can develop good form without a trainer.
I think instead of criticizing people who are focused on one over the other people should understand that everyone's abilities and resources are different and anything that leads to weight loss and healthier lifestyle should be applauded.
Yeah, what she said0 -
This is simply untrue. There are many many people on this site who have results that refute your claim. If you create a deficit with cardio, you will lose weight. If you do cardio but eat up to your TDEE, you will not lose weight. It's as simple as that. Cardio allows you to create a deficit without having to be so deprived, which increases the likelihood that a person will succeed.I have been doing nothing but cardio for the past three years and have yet to lose any weight. In fact, I have gained. I started with a trainer this week and he has me warm up for a lap on a treadmill, but stresses strength/resistance training. After I work out for an hour doing dry land, he has me swim for an hour and a half for the cardio benefits.
I truly believe cario has some awesome health benefits, but you can't lose weight with cardio alone!!!0 -
why use all your energy tying to create a deficit in your body to lose weight? why not just channel that energy to muscle development.
and before anyone gets butt hurt, i kayak and cycle every weekend.
unless you are in a sport that requires aerobic fitness, then yeah there is a point, but other then that just a waste of time.
cant build muscle in a defecit if you lift regularly.. im bulking and i still do cardio.0 -
Why does it have to be an either/or question? Strength training and lifting improves metabolism long term as muscle is more thermogenic than fat. Strength training and lifting also improve bone density. Cardiovascular improves heart function, hence the reason it is called Cardiovascular. Cardio=heart in latin, vascular=veins. Improved heart function improves lung function and endurance.
Sure, you can lose weight doing just one or the other, but then you miss out on other health benefits. Just like we focus on balanced nutrition we should also focus on balanced fitness. Not everyone can join a gym or buy weights, but everyone can go out for a walk, take the stairs, and other cardiovascular exercises. Form matters much more in strength training to prevent injury, not everyone can develop good form without a trainer.
I think instead of criticizing people who are focused on one over the other people should understand that everyone's abilities and resources are different and anything that leads to weight loss and healthier lifestyle should be applauded.
^^Amen to alll of this!0 -
Cardio fitness really helps in sexytimes. I do anything for my body that helps naked sports.
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Why does it have to be an either/or question? Strength training and lifting improves metabolism long term as muscle is more thermogenic than fat. Strength training and lifting also improve bone density. Cardiovascular improves heart function, hence the reason it is called Cardiovascular. Cardio=heart in latin, vascular=veins. Improved heart function improves lung function and endurance.
Sure, you can lose weight doing just one or the other, but then you miss out on other health benefits. Just like we focus on balanced nutrition we should also focus on balanced fitness. Not everyone can join a gym or buy weights, but everyone can go out for a walk, take the stairs, and other cardiovascular exercises. Form matters much more in strength training to prevent injury, not everyone can develop good form without a trainer.
I think instead of criticizing people who are focused on one over the other people should understand that everyone's abilities and resources are different and anything that leads to weight loss and healthier lifestyle should be applauded.
[/quote
Yep what Julicat6 said...0 -
<snip>
The real question to ask yourself, "What specific goal am i training for?" If you answer, "to get bigger" and you get asked "why?" if you say, "i don't know." Then you're doing something pointless.
:smokin:0 -
Man . . this thread is still going huh?
It's simply a matter of opinion. Obviously your a weight lifter. Your goals are either hypertrophy or strength training therefore long duration cardio isn't congruent with your goals. However if I was to ask a marathon runner whether they thought bench pressing was important they would probably say the same thing you said about cardio.
Also, just to be clear, are you actually suggesting ALL cardio is pointless? Because even strength trainers should do conditioning work.
http://www.scramblestuff.com/category/strength-conditioning/
^^I would highly advise that you read this article especially this part:
In another study on elite level Korean Judo athletes undertook sprint interval training with 30 second sprints and 4 minutes rest. The results were compelling “anaerobic peak power and mean power in SIT group was significantly increased by 16% and 17% at 4 weeks and by 17% and 22% at 8 weeks compared to baseline values.” Additionally the blood lactate was lower and ability to clear metabolites was higher in those who did SIT. Jens Bangsbo performed a study in 2009 showing that if you want to run, cycle or swim faster at any distance, you have to train at a pace that is almost as fast as you can move. In 2005 and 2006 Burgomaster et al performed studies looking at the effect of sprint training on endurance. They concluded that short sprint interval training (approximately 15 min of intense exercise over 2 wk period) increased muscle oxidative potential and doubled endurance capacity during intense aerobic cycling in recreationally active individuals. In 2005 Gibala reported that 30 second bursts working at 250% of VO2 max had significant improvements on endurance.0 -
I agree cardio is pointless, i would rather use that energy eating at KFC:drinker: :indifferent:0
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about 30 mins Cardio decreases depression and anxiety more than any medication ever could, as well as improves overall health
IT IS NOT POINTLESS if you care about your HEALTH.0 -
Okay, I only have 3 kids, but this is me 100%I run because I have 5 kids at home and it's the only way I get out alone... you can't make me stop. But I will admit I love what lifting is doing for my body.0 -
With a topic like this, you must be digging for responses. I'll play...
Thanks to my cardio routine, I've managed to cut in half my BP medication. I was diagnosed at age 14 with borderline high blood pressure. At age 38, my doctor decided it was finally time to get me on medication. We had to up the dosage once to get the desired results. After implementing an interval cardio program, my BP dropped and I now take the lowest possible dose of the medication.
Then there is the triglyceride issues I've battled for years. Guess what, they too are now under control. As a matter of fact I went from low 400's to high 70's.
So, if good health is pointless, then you have a point. Otherwise, your point is pointless!
:laugh: 0 -
Eeeekkkkk, you're right!If y'all haven't read the OP's profile, you need to. Right now. It is some of the funniest whackadoodle *kitten* I have ever read.
with utmost respect, brah. :flowerforyou:
He has really cute love handles though. I'd like to give them a squeeze!:bigsmile: I'm a love handle girl... what can I say?0 -
I personally think both are good for the body. I am trying to include more weights than previously, however, I did recently read about how the heart is a muscle and needs a workout just like every other muscle in the body. I found that interesting. The article went into the importance of getting the heart muscle to a good cardio rate to improve the heart muscle/function itself. So, in that way I can see it as an important thing to incorporate into a person's life. I do find though that when I am lifting my weights, my heart rate does increase quite a bit then also so that is good.0
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If it's good enough for my heart, lungs and brain it's good enough for me. And, yes, more deficit please.0
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Huh...so the 42 pounds I've lost is just my imagination??
Huh...so the "on top of the world" feeling I get when I finish a 5K is pointless??
...whatever...0 -
Having just seen Zombieland*, I can say for certain that we need cardio to survive.
Also, it makes us feel good mentally. Without cardio, I wouldn't have made it through my teens.
*Why in goddess name have i not seen this before last week?0 -
I don't understand people who have muscles but can't use them the way the human body is meant to be used.
Athletes are a great example of how the human body should work. A lot of male gymnasts are hugely muscular but they can move incredibly fast. Weightlighting junkies do not have the aerobic capability or flexibility and are only achieving a small percentage of what the human body is capable of.
But, if you are purely in it for vanity then I guess the weights only method works. Until you die of heart failure anyway.0 -
Until the zombies come.......
Seriously though I think the aerobic benefits are better here then with just strength training. I like to incorporate both.
Exactly. About the zombies....Oh and the 2nd part too.
I seriously need a running shirt that references zombies. Putting that on my Christmas wish list.0 -
I don't understand people who have muscles but can't use them the way the human body is meant to be used.
Athletes are a great example of how the human body should work. A lot of male gymnasts are hugely muscular but they can move incredibly fast. Weightlighting junkies do not have the aerobic capability or flexibility and are only achieving a small percentage of what the human body is capable of.
But, if you are purely in it for vanity then I guess the weights only method works. Until you die of heart failure anyway.
Absolutely!0 -
I don't understand people who have muscles but can't use them the way the human body is meant to be used.
Athletes are a great example of how the human body should work. A lot of male gymnasts are hugely muscular but they can move incredibly fast. Weightlighting junkies do not have the aerobic capability or flexibility and are only achieving a small percentage of what the human body is capable of.
But, if you are purely in it for vanity then I guess the weights only method works. Until you die of heart failure anyway.
did you seriously just relate "heart failure" to doing weights? please, show me the data backing up you claim.
and this thread only shows how people cannot think out side the box and do not read the OP correctly, using context clues form the first post.
let me rephrase what i said, people that ONLY DO CARDIO are waisting their time, when compared to people that only weight lift. come on. lets see who looks better? a guy that doesnt do any cardio but does weights only or a person that only does cardio and no weights.
wild example, A marathon Runner form Kenya (120lb) vs Arnold (220lb) on stage?
everyone here is spilling broscience on how "cardio" is the only type of exercise good for your heart. lol, EVERY EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART.0
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