It’s no secret that fitting a bit cardio into your routine can do wonders for your health. Whether you’re running on a treadmill, swimming laps, or taking a dance class, your body will thank you tremendously for getting up and moving every day. However, if weight loss is the goal, there are a few things you can keep in mind to maximize the amount of calories you burn while doing these activities. As it turns out, cardio alone may not be enough to reach your goal weight.
To learn more about the best workout habits to kick those extra pounds to the curb, we spoke to health expert Kimberly Gomer MS, RD/LDN of Body Beautiful Miami. She told us your best bet is to throw some strength training into the mix. Read on to learn why!
Combine Cardio With Strength Training
Gomer notes that cardio is great for your overall health for many reasons. It can help promote a healthier heart, lower stress levels, and a firmer body overall. However, if cardio is your only workout, she warns that it isn't the best way to boost metabolism, burn calories, and lose weight. If those are the results that you're looking for, you'll have to incorporate strength training into your routine, as well.
"Strength training is what should be included along with cardio," she tells us. "Muscles are metabolically active tissue. Muscle needs calories at rest (whereas fat needs very little) so that the more muscle on your body, the more calories your body needs at rest—and it is the best way to boost metabolism." That means that running 10 miles every day won't do you very much good if you're not also building up the muscles that will help you burn more calories.
Additionally, overdoing it on cardio may even lead to counterproductive results by causing you to crave more fatty foods. "Too much cardio can make you extremely hungry and it acts as restriction to the body which then spurs hormones to make you crave foods and potentially overeat," Gomer warns.
"In addition, when people do a ton of cardio, they give themselves a free pass to eat treats they may not eat otherwise," she continues. Remember that spending some time on the treadmill doesn't necessarily mean that piece of chocolate cake will be cancelled out—that's not to say you should never indulge, just that you should still take measures to maintain a healthy, balanced diet if weight loss is what you're after.
Overall, cardio is an important part of any weight loss plan. However, it shouldn't be the only part of your plan! In order to boost your metabolism and burn as many calories as possible with your workout routine, remember to bring in some strength training, and keep a healthy diet at the top of your list of priorities.
