Is there anything wrong with only including cardio in your workouts?

Question

I have been swimming 1 mile a day and running between 3 and 9 miles a day in order to lose weight (in addition to watching my fat intake). It has been mostly effective (dropped 35 pounds in the last 2 months, would like to lose 20 more) but I wonder if it is absolutely necessary to do ab work or weight training, because I am not a fan of that at all...

Answer 1

Cardio's great, but you will be amazed at how much better your body will look and function if you lift weights. THey don't even have to be heavy. You'll be pretty toned up, stronger, etc.

Also, and this is esp. helpful if you still want to lose weight, when you build muscle, it burns calories more. The best workouts are those that combine cardio and weights because it's so efficient at burning calories. LIfting weights is also smart because you continue to burn fat after you stop lifting. Cardio doesn't do that.

In the long run, it's best to do some lifting.

Answer 2

You should do what makes you feel most content with yourself, and your energy level. Size matters less than how energetic and happy you feel over the long term.

Aerobic metabolism is developed by both strength and cardio-vascular training.

Excess food develops only the anerobic metabolism well, which is less efficient than the aerobic, and a sluggish obesity is often the result.

It is possible, though less common, to have a high energy overweight person, and this is preferable to a low energy thin one, but the ideal is to be both strong and energetic with lean tissues.

Answer 3

Well, it's not ABSOLUTELY necessary, but it would be a very good idea to, because with all that weight loss, your muscles are going to be very flabby, and you'll still look fat. That's my problem, I'm not overweight, I'm actually on the low end for my height, but my muscles aren't toned at all, so I look really pudgy.

Answer 4

I do the same exact thing. the only thing that weight lifting is good for is just bulking up muscles. if your just in it for weight loss and endurance, cardio is the way to go.