How much cardio for weight loss

[foxy1220]

Can someone tell me how much cardio is needed daily for weightloss.  Right now I am doing an hour of cardio every morning 5 days a week.  But I have read in some places that after 40 min that you are just wasting your time....other places I have read after 90 minutes that cardio becomes ineffective.  Which one is it?  Because I don't want to put i more time for nothing and I don't want to work out less than I am supposed to.

HELP!

[Mary 53]

Hi,

Please see my post to "Mandymoo" just a little bit of the way down on this forum.

"can somebody suggest something meds - mandymoo1983 11/21/2006"...that is the post. I would recommend the same to you as far as the book that changed my life.

Best of luck.

Mary

[anxiousmomtobe?]

HOw hard are you working out?  Don't try to do too much too fast.  Keep your heart rate between 120 and no higher than 140.

It takes a lifetime to get out of shape and it takes time to get back in shape safely.

I do 20-30 minutes cardio followed by 20 minutes of weights.  I go 3-5 times perweek.  The weight is comign off, slowly maybe 1.5 lbs per week.  I am changing my lifestyle, not just "getting in shape".

I alos vary the cardio I do, sometimes I swim, do aquafit, power walk and sometimes I hit the treadmill, arc trainer or elliptical.

Good luck.

[kk2]

I always thought of 30 min as the magic number and thought I was doing great to be doing that (on the treadmill) but one day I read some info my husband brought home from his doctor. It said the very obese ( which I am) need to be doing more than that to really be getting results with weight loss. It said more like 90 min - but of course working gradually up to it. If you are in a range where you don't have a lot to lose then 30-40 is probably where you need to be. If you want more specifics I will try to find that written info, I probably still have it somewhere, or I could call the doctor's office.

[foxy1220]

thanks, guys...I am working out for an hour it is not so srenuous that I cannot catch my breath or anything but I do work up a good sweat.  And I am losing weight consistently I went from 186 to 168 in about 3 months but I just want to be sure that I am doing the right time because I understand that after a certain point in cardio you start to lose muscle.  And in the long run I don't want to end up doing more harm than good.

[Mary 53]

Please Pick up Covert Bailey's book called, "Fit or Fat?" He explains all of this so very well...he has updated some of his information over the years, but the core ideas are the same.

His newer books include, "The New Fit or Fat" and "Fit or Fat for Women." "Smart Exercise" is another great one. Now, these "new" books were written years ago, but to me he is the premier guru. I should really write to him to thank him for giving me my life back since after struggling with my weight since I was 8 years old, Bailey's information and my follow-through gave me years and years of feeling great, being healthy, and feeling fit. After reading his infomaion, you will know exactly what you are doing, why you are doing it, and how to do it effectively. I have followed his advice since 1981.

Short of writing out his book on this thread, I will have to leave it at that.

But, hearing that someone told you that you would lose muscle if you worked out too long is wrong. They might be refering to anerobics where if you do not stay in your target heart range, you will burn muscle instead of fat, or they might be thinking of people who do only aerobic activity and no weight training. Aerobics will build muscle, but it is aerobics plus weight training that is going to give you the best results.

Good luck to everyone...I have to go workout.

Mary

[prettymuscle]

The first 20 minutes of your workout you are burning carbs, then the boby switches to fat burning, so watch those carbs and do more than 30 minutes, please, I wish for you all to be successful,so try for 45-60 min, 5 days a week. Don't forget to count your calories. Most women needing to lose alot of weight can go for 1400, 1200 is better of course.