I'm just going to do lots of cardio so I lose weight faster (Podcast #12 transcribed)

Yes – calories in versus calories out. You cannot deny science. Burn more than you consume and you will lose weight.  Quick fact for you.- you need to burn 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat. This should be done with a combination of diet and exercise. Yikes that’s a lot huh?  But the good news well kind of good news is you would have to eat 3500 to gain one pound of fat….so those days you step on the scale and you are up 2 pounds…unless you ate 7000 calories you can be assured that you didn’t get fatter overnight. 

Okay back to cardio – yes running will burn a ton of calories….yipppeee for the scale weight loss.  But I’m guessing that although you have a set number in your brain that you need to lose to feel good, look great, this is my goal weight and whatever else you are thinking around the quote unquote losing weight ultimately it is about what you look like.  Pause for a moment and think about this ….what body part are you most focused on eliminating or toning-  not if you lost that 5-10 pounds that you are aiming for yet that part is still not gone or tight or whatever you desire then what?    

And I understand that you may have several pounds that you want to lose so you can feel and look better, but what about when you do – what structure will you reveal?  Soft and undefined. 

Adding weight training will ensure that after you lose the fat a tighter and toned version of you will be revealed. Wouldn’t you want to be efficient and add both cardio and weights to your routine?  Instead of spending all your time just doing cardio – reaching your weight goal and then work on toning?  

Also for every 1# of muscle you will burn more calories at rest. Boosting your metabolism.

And I’m not sure if you ever saw those pictures online – a visual of 5 pounds of fat versus 5 # of muscle. – if you haven’t google it you’ll be amazed. So ultimately although you may weigh the same you will be smaller because muscle would take up less space. 

And lifting weight is good for strengthening your bones and joints. I know you might not be caring about this now – but healthy aging is important to your quality of life.  

So to answer your question- can I just do cardio since I just want to lose weight?  Well of course – if you goal is to be soft and saggy run your ass off.  Literally it’ll be drooping.  

I’m not joking.  On one of my weight loss paths I took up running. I lost weight a ton – I also ran over 30 miles a week….and what did my body look like….bones and hanging skin.  Sure I was skinny – what I wanted but not the softness w/out any form.  

In the end it’s about what you desire to look like – think about the physique you are trying to achieve and train accordingly.  So 

As always - Dou but lift some weights.