CARDIO?!

Are you asking if only doing cardio (as opposed to strength/resistance training) is ok, or if doing cardio only 4-5 times per week is ok?

Lifting weights is really important. When you lose weight, you lose muscle. If you lose a lot of muscle, the amount of calories your body burns on a daily basis will plummet, regardless of how much cardio you do. Lifting weights will help you preserve your muscle. Plus it looks good on you. Yoga is also a really good addition, decreases stress, increases flexibility and can increase strength as well (depending on the kind of yoga).

Yes, it's fine. Strength training is also good, but there's not a darn thing wrong with cardio several days a week. It's certainly better than the alternative where the alternative is sitting on the couch. Plus, it burns some doggone calories, which helps with that whole eat at a calorie deficit thing you need to do if you're trying to lose weight.

You can do cardio or you can do nothing. What is your goal? Weight loss?

You can lose weight sitting on your bum and doing nothing providing you cut calories to below what your body uses.

marilandica wrote: »

Yes, it's fine. Strength training is also good, but there's not a darn thing wrong with cardio several days a week. It's certainly better than the alternative where the alternative is sitting on the couch. Plus, it burns some doggone calories, which helps with that whole eat at a calorie deficit thing you need to do if you're trying to lose weight.

+1

You can do it several days a week if you wish, but your weight loss will be more effective if you do a combined mix of cardio and resistance workouts. Resistance work is important to help preserve lean muscle mass and thus maximise the % of fat loss. Most people who leave it till later regret they didnt start doing it at the same time as regular cardio. Weights give you benefits that cardio does not and vice versa.

The other question looked to be about fequency. yes you can do cardio several days a week, but you should ensure you have 1 complete rest day. Exercise will also depend not just on the frequency of attendance, but the duration and intensity of each session. Diration is obvious, but intensity and keeping it challenging is also important.

Imo get into your comfort zone so you are attending the gym regularly and then start a complementary resistance workout within a few weeks. It will benefit you, dont worry about being weak, you will make early progress. If you dont know what to do or lack confidence ask, maybe try one of the classes at the gym doing something like kettlebells and then you can transition to something more specific.

Of course everyone is different.. but from personal experience, I did a lot of cardio, averaging about 15-30 miles per week for a 4 month peiord. I sure did lose fat but I became skinny fat.. Flabby skin but looked great in clothes. I then incorporated weight training and it helped my overall body composition. If I could do it over again, I would do both!

JarethG wrote: »

badaaz3308 wrote: »

is it bad if I start off only doing cardio four to five times a week? the treadmill is like my bff! this is my second week on my weight loss journey! any suggestions?

You'll want to do more if you want to hit any goals at all, but it's better than nothing.

You should shoot for 6-8 hours a week, minimum, and if your goal is to drop weight, a caloric deficit.

6-8 hours per week? Methinks that is excessive, if you're calling THAT the minimum

urloved33 wrote: »

Yes cardio only works for weight loss.

Huh?

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

urloved33 wrote: »

Yes cardio only works for weight loss.

Huh?

I'm guessing that she meant doing just cardio works for weight loss, and not that cardio is the only thing that works for weight loss.