Is Cardio Really Necessary for Fat Loss?
If heart-pounding running or high-octane aerobics sessions just aren’t your thing, there are other ways you can lose body fat without cardio. But even though you don’t necessarily need cardio for fat loss, it’s one of the best and fastest ways to burn calories. Here are some tips for bare minimum cardio seekers and what noncardio workouts you can do instead to help you lose body fat.
Do you need cardio for fat loss? No, you don’t need to do cardio to lose fat. Weight loss, including fat reduction, is typically caused by a calorie deficit: slashing your calorie intake, increasing the number of calories burned, or both. That said, cardio will help you burn calories more quickly, increasing your fat loss potential.
Why is cardio good for fat loss? Cardio is short for “cardiovascular activity.” Sometimes it’s also referred to as aerobic exercise. Cardio helps bump up your blood pumping and breathing rates, resulting in a great workout for your heart and large muscle groups (think torso and legs).
Excerpted from Greatist
