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Is Cardio Bad For You?

Cardio isn’t bad for you. Our bodies need cardio exercise—we are designed to move, to work hard, to sweat.

The reason why cardio has been getting a bad rap lately is that a lot of people tend to think that cardio all about running on a treadmill for hours. And we all know by now that you don’t need to run for hours or do super long endurance training to get in shape.

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 This Will Help Make Your Strength Workout Even More Effective At Burning Fat

Another reason to add the burst of exertion at the tail end of a workout helps fire up the glorious fat-burning engine known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC, AKA the afterburn). This is when your body has to expend more energy after strenuous activity in order to return the body to its normal resting state.

 You're Probably Doing Cardio All Wrong: The Truth About Training Smarter

If cardio feels torturous or boring, try something new or get outside. Research suggests exercising outdoors can be more enjoyable and result in feelings of revitalization, decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression, and energy boosts.

Articles of Interest

Are exercise bikes good cardio?

It’s true that the exercise bike burns fewer calories than other activities such as water aerobics, according to the Mayo Clinic(opens in new tab). It does have some advantages over its rivals when it comes to at-home equipment though. A treadmill is much higher impact, so will be harder on your joints, and the rowing machine is technically harder to master, so the exercise bike is still a great choice.

Can You Incorporate Cardio Exercises Without Sacrificing Muscle Gains?

If you’re focused on strength training, the thought of adding cardio to your workout routine might make you a little uneasy, and look, I don’t blame you. As someone who prefers spending my workouts in front of the bench press in my garage, I’m not always interested in cardio either. Not to mention, there are studies out there that show cardio is the best way to reduce body mass, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly what we all want to hear when we are hitting the weight rack...but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss it completely.

Cardio Before Weight Lifting May Help Boost Muscle

Twenty minutes of cycling may prime muscles in the arms to grow more while lifting.

Jumping rope is an unbeatable cardio workout—if you do it correctly

The exercise is freakin’ hard, but a thrilling activity regardless of where you live.

The (Many) Benefits of a Cardio Workout

Cycling. Running. Dancing. Hiking. Kickboxing. When it comes to cardiovascular exercises, the options are endless to improve your overall quality of life.

The Best Workouts for Anyone Who Hates Cardio (but Needs It)

You rarely hear anyone say, "I just love cardio!”. But it's a necessary evil for staying healthy, losing weight, and/or maintaining a healthy BMI (not to mention a whole host of heart benefits).

The Fat-Burning Effects of HIIT Workouts Are Exaggerated

The fat-burning benefits of HIIT, however, have been greatly exaggerated, and it doesn’t work nearly as well for fat loss as some like to claim. Here’s a closer look at the science on cardio and weight loss and what it all means for you.

The Workout Debate: Experts Weigh in on Cardio VS. HIIT

Overall, from the experts’ perspective, one exercise isn’t necessarily outright “better” than the other – the same way there isn’t one kind of magic diet that helps you quickly lose weight – but the best thing to do is find something that you like to do regularly, whether that’s running for 30 minutes a day or doing a one hour HIIT program three times a week.

This Is How Running and Cycling Affect the Way Your Body Builds Muscle

How much cardio should you do when you're trying to get stronger?

Weight loss: Here is why doing cardio every day is not helping you shed kilos

There is more than one reason to diversify your workout regime if your motive is to drop kilos and fit into your old denim.

What counts as a cardio workout, anyway?

Essentially, anything that increases your heart rate and makes you sweat is cardio. (Yoga and Pilates often don't raise your heart rate enough, but you can count them as a strength workout.) The options of what you can do are almost limitless...

Why Running Is Such Perfect Cardio

Running has become so popular, in part, because a mountain of evidence suggests it’s great for a long, disease-free life.

Why You Should Throw Away Your Spin Bike, Like This Brave Soul

Cardio has gotten too much airtime for too long.

Resources

5 myths about cardio that you need to stop believing

Cardio is a pillar of exercise that has a reputation for improving heart health, contributing to weight maintenance, and for being an essential component of every workout program.