Using Cardio to Lose Weight

If you are desperate to lose weight, then cardio activity is definitely one of the tools that you will want to have in your weight loss arsenal. The crucial point however is to figure out just how much is enough and , how hard will you have to work in incorporating this, and knowing which cardio exercises are the most effective.

This article will highlight all these factors so that when you have finished reading it you will be in a better position to structure your own cardio program to aid in your weight loss objectives.

Why Cardio?

It is a well known fact that if a person burns more calories than he/she intakes, then weight loss will result. Cardio activity, strength training along with a healthy balanced diet is the key components for experiencing sustained and controlled weight loss.

Cardio is a very crucial ingredient in the whole mix of things for a number of reasons, namely:

• If you are able to burn significant calories through cardio activity then the less dietary adjustment you will have to make in order to begin seeing results.

• Cardio facilitates more calories being burned in anyone sitting then any other singular activity. Once your heart rate is up, your blood is pumping and you are perspiring then you are successfully burning calories.

The Best Cardio Activities

Okay, so now you are fully aware of the importance of cardio activities in your quest for a slimmer body. Now, you will have to decide which cardio activities you will actually incorporate within your routine.

High Impact cardio such as jumping rope, walking or pounding the pavement will often facilitate faster burning of calories than other activities that are not so demanding.

Low impact cardio such as swimming or cycling are great for getting your heart rate up, but are not as effective at burning calories as other more high impact cardio activities.

Entire Body cardio is when both upper and lower body parts are being worked simultaneously, then a more efficient overall workout is achieved and the maximum number of calories are burned in any given session.

However, this is certainly not to suggest that low impact activities should not be incorporated at all. Actually, they are quite important in the overall scheme of things as having balanced cardio routine is essential to experiencing sustained weight loss in any program.

How Much Is Necessary

It is difficult, if not downright impossible to give a wide ranging answer to this query, because the amount of cardio required will inadvertently depend on specific individual factors, and the amount required will vary from individual to individual. The factors that will influence this decision are:

1. The age, gender and metabolism of the individual

2. The current fitness level of the person

3. The body fat percentage and weight of the individual

4. The intensity and frequency of the exercise regimen

The fact of the matter is that cardio exercises will help you to lose weight over time, especially if it is combined with healthy eating habits and strength training.

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