Can cardiovascular exercise help you lose more weight?
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of different opinions here. And if the so called gurus can\’t provide a definitive answer, how are you supposed to decide whether or not to take action?
Luckily for you, I\’ve been doing a lot of research on the subject. And the resounding conclusion is that cardio DOES increase weight loss. Here is why:
1. A bigger heart. If your heart is bigger, you can do more exercise without getting as tired. And a bigger heart will pump more oxygen throughout your body which will give you more energy.
2. Increased quantity of blood. More blood translates into more nutrients getting to your tired muscles. Because of this effect, you\’ll burn more calories and lose more weight.
3. Higher capillary density. Capillaries transport blood to your muscle tissues. Think of this as having more trucks to get your cargo (blood) to where it needs to go. Again, more blood will increase flow and help burn fat at a faster rate than normal.
4. More mitochondria. These are small structures in your cells where energy is produced from ATP. If you have more mitochondria, you have more energy and can produce more physical work. In turn, more physical work translates into more calories burned.
5. A lot more enzymes. The more enzymes the better because they actually accelerate the process of energy creation in your body. And the good news is that cardiovascular work increases their concentration, which in turn will help you burn more calories.
As demonstrated by the research, cardio is a great way to speed up weight loss-it\’s not just for long distance runners. So it\’s in your best interest to include some cardio in your weight loss plan.
The bigger question is how much to include in your routine. The simplest approach is to do as much as you can while NOT compromising recovery.
Author Katherine Crawford MS, a Harvard exercise expert and former arm fat victim, is a sought after expert on the most effective upper arm exercises for women for outstanding toning. Learn how to get sexy and toned arms now by exploring her website on how to get rid of flabby arms, arm fat and fat arms immediately!
