Cardio and MFP combined help speed up loss??

brendanwhite84 wrote: »

'Cardio not helping with weight loss' is some kind of weird reverse bro science for sure.

At my weight running 5K burns about 350 calories. One of my cycling classes burns about 1100. I can vouch for these values, having tracked everything I've eaten and done intensive cardio for the last two years.

I guess some people might imply that cardio 'doesn't help with weight loss' because some people get hungry after and eat back their calories, but that's such an obvious logical fallacy I scarcely know what to say in response.

The reason why you will sometimes see variations of this being said is because we have dozens of threads here where people are asking why they aren't losing weight despite beginning exercise (or sometimes even asking why they are gaining weight). Further questions reveal that they aren't logging what they eat and they aren't in a deficit.

Cardio can help create a deficit, but cardio -- in and of itself -- isn't going to create weight loss. That's the distinction (I think) that people are trying to make clear.

brendanwhite84 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

brendanwhite84 wrote: »

'Cardio not helping with weight loss' is some kind of weird reverse bro science for sure.

At my weight running 5K burns about 350 calories. One of my cycling classes burns about 1100. I can vouch for these values, having tracked everything I've eaten and done intensive cardio for the last two years.

I guess some people might imply that cardio 'doesn't help with weight loss' because some people get hungry after and eat back their calories, but that's such an obvious logical fallacy I scarcely know what to say in response.

The reason why you will sometimes see variations of this being said is because we have dozens of threads here where people are asking why they aren't losing weight despite beginning exercise (or sometimes even asking why they are gaining weight). Further questions reveal that they aren't logging what they eat and they aren't in a deficit.

Cardio can help create a deficit, but cardio -- in and of itself -- isn't going to create weight loss. That's the distinction (I think) that people are trying to make clear.

I see where you're coming from and agree with you in principle, but it's something of a matter of semantics. If you take someone's lifestyle and dietary habits and introduce a reasonable level of cardio while all other factors remain the same, then yes, they're in a deficit and they're going to lose weight. That's enough for me to say yes, cardio in and of itself does create weight loss.

As I see it, arguing that someone could eat back an equal or greater amount of energy as a result of cardio-induced hunger is introducing a confounding variable. Chicken-and-egg, I suppose.

Anyway, like I said I agree and I appreciate your input.

But the issue is that in real life circumstances, all other factors often *don't* remain the same. Someone begins running and they feel more hunger so they add a snack or have a bigger dinner. Or they begin aerobics and add a protein bar to their day because they've been told that more protein is good when you're exercising.

Then they come here and ask why they aren't seeing the results that they want. It's not an isolated thing, which is why it can be helpful to clarify that cardio alone isn't going to great weight loss.

I actually *gained* weight when I trained for my first marathon and I know from speaking to other recreational athletes that this isn't uncommon.

I appreciate your input too and I understand what you're saying, but I think for newer members/people who are struggling it is worth pointing out. We see so many people here who are confused as to why they aren't seeing the results they want despite adding or increasing cardio exercise. So I agree -- cardio (in whole or part) can create a deficit, but many people find that it may require some additional monitoring of their calorie intake to see the results that they want.