cardio...........no thanks

albinogorilla
albinogorilla Posts: 1,056 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Losing weight is a numbers game.
Calories in vs calories out, depending how it swings you will lose or gain, keep it even.......stay the same

I am down 50+ lbs in my time here with little to no cardio in the traditional sense. once a month I run two miles.

I lift weights, sometimes in a slow powerlifting fashion, lots of rest and heavy weight. Sometimes, in a circuit training fashion, 4 exercises done in rapid succession with no rest in between. That is my cardio.

To each their own, but there are many people on here that think you need to spend 2 hours a day on a treadmill to lose weight, and that is not the case. I work out for 45 min, 3 times a week, sometimes 4 but rarely. That is it.

The beauty of the calorie counting game is that you dont need to exercise at all to lose weight. You should obviously for your health, but its not necessary to lose weight.

It does depend on your goals..........I have no desire to look like a marathon runner...........so running for extended periods would be pointless for me. If your goals are cardio based, such as lowering a 5k time, or running a half marathon, then that is a different circumstance entirely.

Long story short, if you hate cardio like me.............dont do it. Lifes to short to be wasting time doing things you hate.
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Replies

  • gemmaldavies
    gemmaldavies Posts: 379
    completely agree.

    u look at sprinters n they look fit, toned, musculay, young n healthy............... compare that to a marathon long distance runner :ohwell:

    (my opinion though)
  • KPainter70
    KPainter70 Posts: 152
    I hate cardio, although I do some HIIT 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, I'm all about lifting heavy and getting it done that way. And unlike cardio, I enjoy weights! Sometimes I wonder when the rest of the female population will figure this out, but hey, I don't mind being one of the few women on that side of the gym.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member

    To each their own, but there are many people on here that think you need to spend 2 hours a day on a treadmill to lose weight, and that is not the case. I work out for 45 min, 3 times a week, sometimes 4 but rarely. That is it.

    The beauty of the calorie counting game is that you dont need to exercise at all to lose weight. You should obviously for your health, but its not necessary to lose weight.

    It does depend on your goals..........I have no desire to look like a marathon runner...........so running for extended periods would be pointless for me. If your goals are cardio based, such as lowering a 5k time, or running a half marathon, then that is a different circumstance entirely.

    I run and I love running but agree 100%, your body, your life, your goals.
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    I love cardio.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I love cardio.

    Ever tried Tae Bo?


    Back OT, fully agree. Doesn't matter how you get to that goal, it's all how you want to do it. I do a mix of cardio and heavy lifting, that way i keep muscle mass and get a visual number of how much extra i can eat :D
  • ster81
    ster81 Posts: 249
    True, to each their own.. If you love cardio continue to do it, as long as you're doing something active to get you where you want to be. Personally, I do zero cardio... Not that I hate it, but my goal is fat loss and cardio just makes me hungry which causes me to eat more than I think im burning... If you love it or you're training for an event, then cardio is where its at. For fat loss and lean muscle gains, gotta hit the weights..
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Ever since I started lifting more, I have come to hate machine cardio. I do enjoy being outdoors and playing sports and such.
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    I love cardio.

    Ever tried Tae Bo?


    Back OT, fully agree. Doesn't matter how you get to that goal, it's all how you want to do it. I do a mix of cardio and heavy lifting, that way i keep muscle mass and get a visual number of how much extra i can eat :D

    Ever heard of ignore?
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    I like running and lifting weights. Lifting makes me feel strong, but I can run outside, and I like being outside.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I currently hate lifting, but I'll do it anyway because I love the eventual benefit I'll see and I'm getting class credit.

    (Tae Bo Sucks.)
  • sportyskylar
    sportyskylar Posts: 149
    Its very true. Weight training > cardio
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
    Lost the majority of my weight without exercise. Pretty simple.
  • robdahlgren0506
    robdahlgren0506 Posts: 13 Member
    I like standard cardio (running), but doing circuits is the most hard core cardio I do. Heavy lifting with cardio during the rest periods is what I've been doing and it is a killer!
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Lost the majority of my weight without exercise. Pretty simple.

    Then you lost a lot of muscle too. Most of us would rather hold onto muscle and lose fat...
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    My HR spikes up pretty high when I squat heavy and do other compound lifts. Strength training does work the heart quite a bit if done correctly.
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
    Find what works for you is my moto. No reason to do what you don't like.

    I love running, so I run. Don't like weight training much so I rarely do it :flowerforyou:
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
    I have no desire to do cardio but I enjoy participating in 5k races. It keeps me focused on completing a race a month. So I am always TRAINING for another race. I just started strength training last year and lifting heavy weights a month ago. I must say I enjoy the shorter intense work outs more! Skip cardio or minimize it if you are not a cardio lover. However, I LOVE Zumba and Latin dance LOL
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Thing is, most of the things i enjoy, DDR, Badminton, etc are natural cardio anyway. I do them as i enjoy it, not because its cardio. Lifting, for me, isn't actual enjoyment, but i know i should do it, so i do.
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    I love lifting.....(no weight thrower)
  • yummy♥
    yummy♥ Posts: 612 Member
    i didn't care for cardio until i started trail running.
    if you go fast on trails you are unfamiliar with, it's kinda like a video game. or an adventure movie.
    good times.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    I have no desire to do cardio but I enjoy participating in 5k races. It keeps me focused on completing a race a month. So I am always TRAINING for another race.

    this. i hate hate hate cardio by itself. but i am competitive so i will do cardio in order to train for 5K, 10K (and september's tough mudder) because i know i will need to have to run for a while. 10K is my max, i'd never do a marathon or any other endurance type event

    personally i'd much rather pick up something heavy
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I am starting to come to the conclusion cardio is futile for weight loss. The key is diet, diet, diet. I have been lifting 30-45mins 3x a week, no cardio, and i have been losing on average about 3lbs a week.

    Hardly futile. It means i can eat more, thus making me happier, eating more of what i enjoy, while maintaining my macros and deficit, thus meaning i really dont feel like this is work, and more likely to stick with it! :D
  • jrdennis13
    jrdennis13 Posts: 13
    I do it for the zombies...When they come, weights won't help you outrun them...
  • ebaymommy
    ebaymommy Posts: 1,067 Member
    completely agree.

    u look at sprinters n they look fit, toned, musculay, young n healthy............... compare that to a marathon long distance runner :ohwell:

    (my opinion though)

    I am in training for my 5th full marathon.....so do I look awful?
  • ebaymommy
    ebaymommy Posts: 1,067 Member
    Just wanted to add that I also lift (heavy) weights at least 2x a week. When I'm not in training for a marathon I run much less (and don't replace it with other cardio) and lift more. When my June marathon is over I plan to do NROLFW. It's all about balance, but I love to run so I'm not about to give it up.
  • Riverofbeauty
    Riverofbeauty Posts: 205 Member
    I agree with this post in a way, that there a lot of people that think you have to run to lose weight.

    I see people running out on the streets who look like they just want to die, and I want to tell them they don't have to run - walking can be just as effective.

    (Of course I see people who look like the love running too, and good for them!)

    Everyone has their own goals, and I admire people who actually like running. But that's not me, and I haven't had any problems losing weight/getting in shape by not running. It's totally a matter of what you LIKE doing.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    I am starting to come to the conclusion cardio is futile for weight loss. The key is diet, diet, diet. I have been lifting 30-45mins 3x a week, no cardio, and i have been losing on average about 3lbs a week.

    Hardly futile. It means i can eat more, thus making me happier, eating more of what i enjoy, while maintaining my macros and deficit, thus meaning i really dont feel like this is work, and more likely to stick with it! :D

    That's an illusion, increase energy expenditure leads to increased appetite. The thing with weight training compared to cardio is you get benefits in terms of LBM gains. Which of course burns more calories. If 2 people exercised for 10yrs, 1 person did resistance training, and another did cardio. Lets say the person who did resistance gained on average 20lbs in those 5yrs of muscle.

    What happens if both of them stop working out at the same time? Cardio effects go out the window, resistance training effects last longer.

    I'll agree with you with the "futile" i could have used something else.

    Oh trust me, i know the theory, and i agree. But, for the purposes of fat loss and getting fit, cardio will have an effect. I dont have an increased appetite after cardio, everyone is different. I really feel it on days i dont exercise, as i like my food.

    Don't get me wrong, i know lifting is good, important, and can indeed make cardio unnecessary, where it not for the health benefits to your body. Just don't force yourself to do cardio because you think it's the only way.
  • ebaymommy
    ebaymommy Posts: 1,067 Member
    I agree with this post in a way, that there a lot of people that think you have to run to lose weight.

    I see people running out on the streets who look like they just want to die, and I want to tell them they don't have to run - walking can be just as effective.

    (Of course I see people who look like the love running too, and good for them!)

    Everyone has their own goals, and I admire people who actually like running. But that's not me, and I haven't had any problems losing weight/getting in shape by not running. It's totally a matter of what you LIKE doing.

    I agree...you should do what you enjoy.

    But the OP and the 2nd poster both made references to "not wanting to look like a marathon runner" - I'm just curious as to what is so awful-looking about us marathoners? Of course people of all shapes & sizes run marathons so that blanket statement confuses me. I've toed the start line of all 4 of my marathons with people of all shapes, sizes, weights and builds so I'm curious what the general idea of a marathon runner looking like is?
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
    I agree with this post in a way, that there a lot of people that think you have to run to lose weight.

    I see people running out on the streets who look like they just want to die, and I want to tell them they don't have to run - walking can be just as effective.

    (Of course I see people who look like the love running too, and good for them!)

    Everyone has their own goals, and I admire people who actually like running. But that's not me, and I haven't had any problems losing weight/getting in shape by not running. It's totally a matter of what you LIKE doing.

    That's all it is, dude. Finding what you ENJOY. Any activity is good for you in some way. Do what you like, not what you think will be effective.
  • taramaureen
    taramaureen Posts: 569 Member
    I agree with this post in a way, that there a lot of people that think you have to run to lose weight.

    I see people running out on the streets who look like they just want to die, and I want to tell them they don't have to run - walking can be just as effective.

    (Of course I see people who look like the love running too, and good for them!)

    Everyone has their own goals, and I admire people who actually like running. But that's not me, and I haven't had any problems losing weight/getting in shape by not running. It's totally a matter of what you LIKE doing.

    I agree...you should do what you enjoy.

    But the OP and the 2nd poster both made references to "not wanting to look like a marathon runner" - I'm just curious as to what is so awful-looking about us marathoners? Of course people of all shapes & sizes run marathons so that blanket statement confuses me. I've toed the start line of all 4 of my marathons with people of all shapes, sizes, weights and builds so I'm curious what the general idea of a marathon runner looking like is?


    Perhaps they're refering to me the fat runner LOL

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