Does Cardio Help You Lose Weight?

Can you really lose weight with cardio? This is a question that has plagued fitness enthusiasts for years, and it still persists to this day. Well, the short answer is yes, cardio can help you lose weight. But, as with any form of exercise, there are a number of factors that you need to consider before going on a cardio workout. In this article, I'm going to share with you what those factors are so you can decide if cardio is right for you.

The first thing you need to consider when trying to lose weight is whether or not your cardio routine will be a long-term thing. If you're looking to lose a significant amount of weight in the near future, then you're better off doing some form of strength training first. Cardio, while burning calories, won't have much effect on your weight loss until close to your goal. If you want to trim down for a wedding or other special event in 2 weeks, you'll want to do some cardio workouts and perhaps some strength training as well. If you're looking to lose a significant amount of weight over the next year or so, you should keep doing both strength building and cardio workouts. It's that important.

Another thing you need to take into account is the amount of time you think you have to work out. If you typically work out for an hour a day, doing cardio may not be enough in a given week. So, make sure you look up your average gym time and divide that by seven or eight and get the amount of time you should be working out.

You also need to figure out how many calories you plan to burn during your cardio workout. Obviously, if you want to lose weight quickly, you're better off sticking with high intensity cardiovascular exercises. However, if you want to build muscle, then a cardio workout with moderate intensity is ideal. Cardio can definitely help you lose weight if you're willing to commit to it consistently and choose the right kind of workouts.

Now that you know what your goals are, it's time to find the right cardio routine. Do you want to build muscle or lose weight? Or maybe you have concerns about your age or health? Whatever it is, make sure to find a routine that matches your needs.

If you're concerned about your weight, start light. That's true regardless of whether you're trying to build muscle or lose weight. Start out with a thirty minute session three times a week. As your body can handle more sessions, bump that up to a one hour session. This way, you only have to do it once a week instead of two.

Strength training is important as well. For maximum results, do your cardio after you've done some strength training. When you do your strength training, make sure you push yourself to the limit. That means you should feel like you have to go as far as you can for the time being. By doing cardio before you do your strength training, you ensure that you're ready for the intense physical activity.

If you need a little bit of motivation to get started with cardio workouts, consider enlisting the help of an exercise buddy. If you can't do your own exercise and you're having trouble getting through a session, ask your exercise buddy to join you in a quick workout session. In addition to giving you some extra inspiration, a good exercise buddy will be able to keep you accountable for your cardio sessions as well. That's probably going to be the most important factor in deciding whether or not cardio helps you lose weight.