Why Cardio is Still Important
By Genevieve Cunningham
It seems as though the modern fitness world is obsessed with weightlifting. Everything seems to be about strength training or bodybuilding. While fitness advice once centered around cardio, this form of exercise has now taken a back seat. But even in the midst of the obsession with weights and kettlebells and all things heavy, it’s important to remember the value of a good cardio sweat session. If you’ve forgotten the benefit of breaking a sweat with a good run, take a look at these reasons why cardio is still incredibly important in the fitness world.
It Improves Stamina
Nothing improves stamina like cardio. Running, walking, swimming … these exercises challenge the lungs and force us to use the muscles for longer periods of time. While this may not seem like much, stamina is actually crucial for every aspect of life. If you have good stamina, you can do more at work, be more involved at home, and still have a little energy left over.
It Helps You Shed Weight
Cardio absolutely helps to burn calories. And burning calories is the most basic rule of weight loss. If you want to lose weight, it’s a good idea to add cardio to your weight lifting routine in order to burn more calories and break a sweat. Without cardio, it may take longer to burn the number of calories that make up a pound, and therefore take you much longer to lose the weight that you want to lose.
It Feels Good
One really positive aspect of cardio is that it feels good. Almost any nonstop cardio, but especially running, can give you the infamous runner’s high. This is a euphoric feeling that comes after performing the cardio activity for a certain length of time. The length of time that it takes to reach this feeling is different for everyone. The only way to know what works for you is to do it, so get moving and enjoy.
Even though weightlifting is incredibly good for the body and will certainly help you reach your fitness goals, it’s not necessarily the be-all and end-all. Don’t forget about cardio. It brings many benefits to the table, so add it back into your routine, and you’ll likely find that your health and fitness improves quickly with the addition.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Happy Valley, Ore.