Cardio doesn't burn fat!!!

Their progress is not solely attributed to cardio.... yes it is a tool, but the majority of the shift in their body composition is through consistency of hitting their macros and resistance training, and a deficit.

I don't understand what you're trying to get it? I never said it doesn't burn fat, i just said it's not as effective. My point again is that you can achieve top level body composition without the use of cardio.

Rarely in my life have I seen such remarkable synergy between a username and a post.

Do you know any physique competitors?

I know a few myself (2 female fitness competitors and 1 bodybuilder) and when they are in training mode for a show the ones I know amp up the cardio, granted when they are off from a show the cardio is almost none existent (hitting the weight room more)... I recall watching some Jay Cutler video's awhile back (before he tore his bicep) and he was hitting the gym at 2 in the morning specifically for cardio sessions (the video's I watch was leading in to the Mr. O...) So are you saying these are just exceptions to the norm or am I missing something????

You don't consider Jay Cutler to be an exception from the norm....?

You missed the point they are all doing cardio

Their progress is not solely attributed to cardio.... yes it is a tool, but the majority of the shift in their body composition is through consistency of hitting their macros and resistance training, and a deficit.

You're still missing the point. They are all doing CARDIO. No one said anything about their progress being attributed to that. The point is (wait for it) THEY ARE ALL DOING CARDIO.

And if they cut it out all of a sudden they would store bodyfat? please....

I don't understand what you're trying to get it? I never said it doesn't burn fat, i just said it's not as effective. My point again is that you can achieve top level body composition without the use of cardio.

Rarely in my life have I seen such remarkable synergy between a username and a post.

Do you know any physique competitors?

I know a few myself (2 female fitness competitors and 1 bodybuilder) and when they are in training mode for a show the ones I know amp up the cardio, granted when they are off from a show the cardio is almost none existent (hitting the weight room more)... I recall watching some Jay Cutler video's awhile back (before he tore his bicep) and he was hitting the gym at 2 in the morning specifically for cardio sessions (the video's I watch was leading in to the Mr. O...) So are you saying these are just exceptions to the norm or am I missing something????

You don't consider Jay Cutler to be an exception from the norm....?

You missed the point they are all doing cardio

Their progress is not solely attributed to cardio.... yes it is a tool, but the majority of the shift in their body composition is through consistency of hitting their macros and resistance training, and a deficit.

I don't understand what you're trying to get it? I never said it doesn't burn fat, i just said it's not as effective. My point again is that you can achieve top level body composition without the use of cardio.

Rarely in my life have I seen such remarkable synergy between a username and a post.

Do you know any physique competitors?

I know a few myself (2 female fitness competitors and 1 bodybuilder) and when they are in training mode for a show the ones I know amp up the cardio, granted when they are off from a show the cardio is almost none existent (hitting the weight room more)... I recall watching some Jay Cutler video's awhile back (before he tore his bicep) and he was hitting the gym at 2 in the morning specifically for cardio sessions (the video's I watch was leading in to the Mr. O...) So are you saying these are just exceptions to the norm or am I missing something????

You don't consider Jay Cutler to be an exception from the norm....?

You missed the point they are all doing cardio

Their progress is not solely attributed to cardio.... yes it is a tool, but the majority of the shift in their body composition is through consistency of hitting their macros and resistance training, and a deficit.

You're still missing the point. They are all doing CARDIO. No one said anything about their progress being attributed to that. The point is (wait for it) THEY ARE ALL DOING CARDIO.

And if they cut it out all of a sudden they would store bodyfat? please....

Where did I say that?

Oh, and remind me to tell my friend who does triathlons, finished an iron man, bikes, swims, runs that his extremely low body fat percentage and ripped body is fake. Yes he lifts but the majority of his exercise is cardio. Hours of cardio.

I don't understand what you're trying to get it? I never said it doesn't burn fat, i just said it's not as effective. My point again is that you can achieve top level body composition without the use of cardio.

Rarely in my life have I seen such remarkable synergy between a username and a post.

Do you know any physique competitors?

I know a few myself (2 female fitness competitors and 1 bodybuilder) and when they are in training mode for a show the ones I know amp up the cardio, granted when they are off from a show the cardio is almost none existent (hitting the weight room more)... I recall watching some Jay Cutler video's awhile back (before he tore his bicep) and he was hitting the gym at 2 in the morning specifically for cardio sessions (the video's I watch was leading in to the Mr. O...) So are you saying these are just exceptions to the norm or am I missing something????

You don't consider Jay Cutler to be an exception from the norm....?

You missed the point they are all doing cardio

Their progress is not solely attributed to cardio.... yes it is a tool, but the majority of the shift in their body composition is through consistency of hitting their macros and resistance training, and a deficit.

You're still missing the point. They are all doing CARDIO. No one said anything about their progress being attributed to that. The point is (wait for it) THEY ARE ALL DOING CARDIO.

And if they cut it out all of a sudden they would store bodyfat? please....

Where did I say that?

Oh, and remind me to tell my friend who does triathlons, finished an iron man, bikes, swims, runs that his extremely low body fat percentage and ripped body is fake. Yes he lifts but the majority of his exercise is cardio. Hours of cardio.

Again, you seem to be the one missing the point... I'm not arguing that it can't burn fat. I am saying you can attain low levels without it. Honestly from there it becomes a matter of perception...compare the body of a sprinter to a long distance runner.

actually there should be a mixture of cardio and weight training, i'm over 200lbs if weight training were my only form of exercise i'd look like a beefed up man. no thanks :indifferent:

A way that cardio DOES NOT burn fat is through long slow cardio. This has many benefits, but fat-burning is not one of them.

Sorry but this is incorrect. Once you have depleted your glycogen stores your body has to replenish them from somewhere. Yes HIIT will burn calories quicker but that only make it more time efficient.
It doesn't alter the fact that if you have burned calories and don't replace them from your food your body will use its energy stores.
Low impact cardio burns a higher proportion of fat than high impact - but it takes longer to burn the same calories.

This thread isn't about the knocking the cardiovascular benefits of it... it's saying that it isn't nearly as effective from a fat loss perspective, which is true. People get really jumpy around here real fast....

Look to all the top fitness, physique, bodybuilding competitors... it wasn't built by cardio, it was built through resistance training.

CARDIO DOES BURN FAT. And cardio DOESN'T burn fat. It depends on how it is done.

Three ways it burns fat. . .

1. Interval cardio with HIIT: (ie walk, jog, run, repeat) for 20 - 30 minutes

2. Fasted cardio such as first thing in the morning after an overnight fast and before breakfast: When done on an empty stomach your body uses fat stores as energy (some say this is controversial).

4. After a weight lifting session which mostly burns carbs and calories, you then do cardio to burn fat.


A way that cardio DOES NOT burn fat is through long slow cardio. This has many benefits, but fat-burning is not one of them.

All cardio releases endorphins and seratonin (feel good hormones). Makes you sleep better the natural way and is better than an anti-depressant pill (for most people who are not suffering from chronic or severe depression as I can't comment on that. It is case by case no doubt).

This thread isn't about the knocking the cardiovascular benefits of it... it's saying that it isn't nearly as effective from a fat loss perspective, which is true. People get really jumpy around here real fast....

Look to all the top fitness, physique, bodybuilding competitors... it wasn't built by cardio, it was built through resistance training.

CARDIO DOES BURN FAT. And cardio DOESN'T burn fat. It depends on how it is done.

Three ways it burns fat. . .

1. Interval cardio with HIIT: (ie walk, jog, run, repeat) for 20 - 30 minutes

2. Fasted cardio such as first thing in the morning after an overnight fast and before breakfast: When done on an empty stomach your body uses fat stores as energy (some say this is controversial).

4. After a weight lifting session which mostly burns carbs and calories, you then do cardio to burn fat.


A way that cardio DOES NOT burn fat is through long slow cardio. This has many benefits, but fat-burning is not one of them.

All cardio releases endorphins and seratonin (feel good hormones). Makes you sleep better the natural way and is better than an anti-depressant pill (for most people who are not suffering from chronic or severe depression as I can't comment on that. It is case by case no doubt).

Here it is again.

A way that cardio DOES NOT burn fat is through long slow cardio. This has many benefits, but fat-burning is not one of them.

Sorry but this is incorrect. Once you have depleted your glycogen stores your body has to replenish them from somewhere. Yes HIIT will burn calories quicker but that only make it more time efficient.
It doesn't alter the fact that if you have burned calories and don't replace them from your food your body will use its energy stores.
Low impact cardio burns a higher proportion of fat than high impact - but it takes longer to burn the same calories.

I disagree. bc HIIT burns fat not just calories. I was referring to "long slow cardio" (relook at my post). I said it doesn't burn fat, it burns calories. I stand behind that. Long High Impact can burn muscle if you are not at target heart rate. That is one reason to do high impact for only a brief period and alternate it with low impact. You slow down and speed up there too which makes you work harder. Sorry, you you are wrong.

A way that cardio DOES NOT burn fat is through long slow cardio. This has many benefits, but fat-burning is not one of them.

Sorry but this is incorrect. Once you have depleted your glycogen stores your body has to replenish them from somewhere. Yes HIIT will burn calories quicker but that only make it more time efficient.
It doesn't alter the fact that if you have burned calories and don't replace them from your food your body will use its energy stores.
Low impact cardio burns a higher proportion of fat than high impact - but it takes longer to burn the same calories.

I disagree. bc HIIT burns fat not just calories. I was referring to "long slow cardio" (relook at my post). I said it doesn't burn fat, it burns calories. I stand behind that. Long High Impact can burn muscle if you are not at target heart rate. That is one reason to do high impact for only a brief period and alternate it with low impact. You slow down and speed up there too which makes you work harder. Sorry, you you are wrong.

Pardon? Don't understand what you mean my "doesn't burn fat, it burns calories" - calories are a unit of measurement.

HIIT will burn some fat but a much smaller proportion of fat compared to low intensity. The downside to low intensity is that it takes time to reach a high calorie burn (if that's your aim).
Quick Google search shows someone doing 30 mins at 60% max heartrate burns 63% fat, at 80% max heartrate this drops to 33%.

I am not sure how to prove this to you. I can get a TON of examples to you. But I don't know if I should spend the time on Google to prove it or not. . .these are from my memory and can be Googled by you if you care.

Bill Phillips of Body for Life and Transformation says to HIIT and doesn't recommend long slow cardio.

Labrada, also recommends it. He says do long slow cardio no more than once a week.

Buff Mother says to do HIIT, lift and do long slow cardio no more than once a week.

The subject of the thread is this, "cardio does not burn fat". IT does burn fat, but long slow cardio will do nothing more than to burn calories. You have to be at a certain heart rate for a certain amount of time to burn fat. Long slow cardio is not going to do that. It is going to only allow you to eat more calories. Look a the personal trainer's posts on here from earlier, they said what I already said.