When to Do Cardio to Burn Fat

Cardio for many of us is the worst part of the workout…being out of breath, sweating, and especially having to wear masks right now certainly is not ideal. However, it can have very beneficial effects on our bodies both physically and mentally.

First of all, the MOST important part is that it helps us focus, boost our mood with endorphins, manage cardiovascular health, and strengthen our heart and muscles. The endorphins even a walk outdoors can give us is a good way to clear our heads and get our heart rates up. As well as improving mental health, cardio burns lots of calories. However, so does weight training…

So why would we need to do cardio if we are burning calories weight training?

Basically, glycogen is stored from glucose (aka sugar) through carbohydrates. It fuels our muscles while we do any strenuous activities. It is mainly used in weight training workouts because its harder work on our bodies than walking or jogging.

In order, our bodies use glycogen, fats, and then protein as energy sources. Therefore, in order to really target our body fat, we need to use up that glycogen first. I mean I’m not saying work out and lift till you’re shaky, dizzy, and have NO energy left. But usually, this use of glycogen is used within 30-45 minutes of weight training and then our body starts to use fat for its energy source. This is a good time to switch over to cardio for both fat loss & muscle recovery.

If your goal is to get rid of some extra fat, the key is be in a caloric deficit (using food as FUEL, with protein and veggies, and getting rid of liquid calories and bad sugars!) However in terms of working out, use that glycogen to weight train for 30-45 minutes and burn off the fat with a nice 15-30 minute walk, run, whatever you want! You don’t need to be wheezing, hacking, and sweating bullets for a cardio workout to burn calories. As long as you get your heart rate up, you are getting your cardio in & shredding that fat out.

Regardless of your goals, cardio is a really important thing to incorporate into our routines. It is good for our heart, muscles, mental health, and overall physical performance. In order to see results, fuel your body, do not restrict yourself, and do workouts that are also fun for you!