Do you think the no cardio workout works?

Question

I saw a segment on 20/20 about the no cardio workout. Basically, the idea is to gain a lot of muscle so your body will burn off more calories, therefore making you skinny. Now that I think of it, every time I goto the gym all the fit people are doing weights and all the non fit people do cardio but they never do both. What is your take on this?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I believe this new diet has validity to it. Yes, Cardio is very important for your heart and you shouldn't discard it altogether but remember this no cardio diet also consist of eating 1200 calories a day. If you are burning calories doing weights or cardio 3-4 times a week, and eating only 1200 calories a day you will loose weight period. Since studies show that weight training boosts your metabolism more so then cardio and you are not as hungry after doing weights vs. cardio then it would most likely be very beneficial to substitute the cardio for weights a few days a week. Also keep in mind if you only take short breaks in-between sets and keep your heart rate up is just as good as a fast walk. I'll most likely continue to do both for now but maybe go 80/20 with weights being 80%. I have lost 4 inches on my waist, and 15lbs in three weeks doing about 65% weights and 35% cardio and most important EATING the right foods, and less food.

Answer 2

Actually... Cardio is very important. And cardio is the best way to sweat which means the best way to burn fat. The slimmer people who do weights are probably just tightening up the little lose skin, or muscles. The more obese people are trying to lose the weight b4 they tighten it. I dont kno much about weight loss, but i do kno its important to do cardio...

Dont beleive everything you hear on t.v.

Answer 3

It's bullshit. And i know this for a fact because i lost 40 lbs doing cardio alone. I didn't life a single weight, and my skin isn't "loose" or anything like that either.
Sure you could do weights and no cardio and be fit, but then you would never be woking your stamina and helping your heart. It's true that muscle burns tons of calories and the more muscular you are the faster your metabolism is, but if you only do weights, then you aren't "losing" fat persay, but converting it to muscle. You'll bulk up rather than slim down.

Answer 4

You need to do some cardio - even walking or running for a bit to raise your metabolism.

Answer 5

As a fitness instructor I feel I have a responsibility to tell you that a 'balanced' fitness plan includes four essential elements...cardio, strength, flexibility and rest. The key is not to over do in any category.

Answer 6

as a certified personal trainer, i feel it is important that i clarify an incorrect statement made by melissa. it IS important to do you cardio, we need to be heart healthy. kudos to you melissa for losing 40 lbs!! a person SHOULD be incorporating a repertoire of good nutritional habits (most important), cardio workouts and resistance training... HOWEVER, there is absolutely NO WAY to convert fat to muscle... they are 2 completely different entities... fat is fat, muscle is muscle.. fat cannot be converted to muscle or vice versa... fat and muscle can both be gained or lost depending on your efforts, but one cannot become the other.. never the twain shall meet...

Answer 7

This idea is not new. Twenty years ago I started at the gym and many people only did the weights and lost lots of weight. There also was a book out later that talked about same thing. I notice when I do lots of cardio I am hungrier and have never found it to be helpful to losing weight as much as the building muscle theory. Perhaps we all react differently? I suspect also depends on how much weight have to lose. If you 100 lbs or more overweight doing anything will help lose the fat.