How what period of cardio is required before I start to burn fat?

Question

I have been jogging for around 20-25 minute periods everyday, then followed up with about 15-20 minutes of simple exercises such as leg lifts, sit ups, and push ups. Is this an effective method of losing weight?

Answer 1

the first 20-30min of cardio body burns carbs and only then starts burning fat so ideally it has to be 45min long at least 4 times a week (have one day a week deffinately off because body needs time to recover)

Answer 2

It won't be too effective for long. If you are deconditioned, you will get results with just about anything. Once the body becomes accustomed to moving around and expending energy, it wil take a bit more intensity than what is listed above to get rid of body fat. Some people are faster losers than others, depending on body type. If you are prone to body fat, then it may take a shift in intensity to see continued results. Up to 45 mins. or cardio is good, but it is important that the intensity is appropriate. If you can watch television, read a magazine, and talk to a friend next to you, you are probably not working hard enough. Listen to your body. As far as the exercises go, these will not 'tone' you. I detest that word, because it has given women false hope, and it is used wrong. The only way to define the body is to combine a balanced diet with a bit of cardio, and weight training (with heavy weights). Your diet is THE NUMBER ONE component of your program.

Answer 3

This is an extremely effective method with the correct diet. It's key to do 20-30 minutes of cardio atleast 4 times a week. And the simple excersises will be great for toning up your body. If you build muscle, you may not lose weight- but you will definitely trim down and you will look thin. Remember, muscle is much heavier than fat- but it takes up less room.

I was doing a cardio and strength program (about equal in amounts) and I only lost 5 lbs. But I did look much more thin than before and I did lose 4 inches off of my waist.

Answer 4

Trying to do both at the same time isn't the most productive. This is because to gain muscle you should be eating in surplus and to lose weight you should be eating in a deficit. Trying to do both of these things at once or get a balance will cause you to be "spinning your wheels" and you probably won't see any progress at all. You need to prioritize whats most important right now, losing weight or gaining muscle. Do one, then when you've got what you want from that switch to the other. This will be far more effective than trying to do both at once. If you decide you want to lose weight first then keep weight training but do high reps (15-20) with short rest times (30 seconds or less) add in some cardio and make sure you're eating a calorie deficit (ie. less calories than you normally eat to maintain your weight) If you decide you want to gain muscle first then lift heavy and often. Find a weight where you can only manage 8-12 reps in each set. Make sure you're eating in a calorie surplus (ie. more than you normally eat to maintain your current weight) this is so you have extra energy to fuel your workouts and help your muscles to grow. You should also make sure you're getting 1g of protein for every 1 pound you weigh - so 196g of protein per day. Protein comes from lean meats, fish and dairy, but if you struggle to eat enough of these foods to meet your target then protein powder can be an easier and more convenient solution. Good luck!

Answer 5

This answer is going to be different for different people. But the rule of thumb is this:

Get your heart rate to 120 bmp and keep it there for at least15 min. Be sure to warm up and cool down with stretches before and after as well.