Cardiovascular (or cardio) workouts are exercises that boost your heart rate. Examples are jogging, cycling, walking, swimming and bicycling.
Why Cardio for Weight Loss?
Cardio is great for burning calories. One pound of fat is 3,500 calories, so once you burn more calories than you eat, you begin to lose weight.
Along with burning calories, cardio exercise strengthens your heart, lungs, and muscle groups. It also increases metabolism. All this helps you burn more calories in a day and keeps your energy up.
Recent studies show that the best way to burn more calories is through interval training. This can be accomplished by short bursts of high intensity cardio alternating with a lower intensity cardio.
Multiple short bursts of high intensity through out your work out will burn more calories than a longer workout at a lower steady intensity.
Why Ask Your Doctor Before Starting an Exercise Program?
It is important to consult a doctor before starting an exercise program. Your doctor will be more familiar with your current condition and can talk through your concerns and questions with you. When you exercise with weight loss as your goal, your doctor can help you create a program that’s right for you.
Get Personalized Help With Weight Loss at the Optimal Wellness Center
Dr. Keller’s weight loss program includes personal consultation to help you find the right type of exercise for you. Find out more about the support available to you in Dr. Keller’s weight Loss Program.
Dr. Betty Keller is a board certified doctor specializing in weight loss, chronic pain treatment, medical acupuncture and disease prevention, serving Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, NJ, and nearby areas. She practices integrative medicine at the Optimal Wellness Center in Ridgewood, New Jersey.