Best Cardio For Weight Loss
So, you want to lose weight.
Well for starters, I’m glad you’re here.
I’ve helped numerous 1-on-1 coaching clients reach their weight loss goals. So just by being on my website reading this article, you’re putting yourself in a great position for success.
(I’d definitely recommend checking out some of my content on social media as well if you want to lose weight btw, I’ll add all of my handles at the bottom of this article)
But, you’re likely wondering… “Where the fuck do I start?”
You know you need to be doing some form of cardio, but you aren’t exactly sure which is the BEST to achieve your weight loss goals.
You’ve spent enough time spinning your wheels, not making any progress. So you don't want to go out and buy a Peloton if it isn’t actually going to help you reach your goals.
And I get it!!
I promise you’re not alone in this.
There is so much noise on social media and online nowadays, it's hard to know where to start.
So just know, you’re in the right place, I got you. Now keep reading…
If you don't know this by now, to lose weight you likely need to be doing some form of cardio… unfortunately.
Cardio can be a long, boring, tedious activity. The word alone creates a feeling of dread.
But you’ve got to do it.
If your goal is to lose weight, you need to be creating a deficit in your energy balance.
Basically what this means is, the number of calories you burn needs to be LARGER than the number of calories you consume.
CALORIES BURNED > CALORIES CONSUMED = WEIGHT LOSS
Now typically this deficit in energy balance is achieved through eating a little bit less.
BUT, my personal belief is the most ideal way to achieve energy balance is through a combination. Eat a little bit less, and move a little bit more.
And here is where cardio comes into play. Cardio acts as ‘moving a little bit more.’
At this point you’re probably really thinking “okay, but what is the BEST form of cardio, what should I be doing?”
Here’s the answer.
This might surprise a lot of you, but, the BEST form of cardio for 99.99999% of the population with the goal of weight loss is…
WALKING
Yes, the best cardio for weight loss is walking.
Now before you chalk this up as bullshit and stop reading, let me explain why.
Walking is the best cardio for weight loss because it…
Is BY FAR the most joint friendly/low-impact form of cardio. Walking places very little stress on your joints and connective tissues especially compared to other cardio options such as running.
Is BY FAR the most widely accessible form of cardio. A Peloton runs for upwards of $1000, pretty much everyone can step outside of their house and go for a walk in a nearby area for FREE. (And if it's cold outside, put a fucking jacket on, you’ll be fine)
Is BY FAR the easiest form of cardio to tailor to any level of fitness. If you’re literally just starting out, you can go outside, stay on a flat slope, and only walk ¼ mile at a time. Do that 4 times a day and you’re in a pretty great spot. AND if you’re very advanced in your fitness and cardiovascular health, you can strap on a weighted vest and walk uphill for a mile. Walking is so easy to progress or regress to all fitness levels.
And the most important reason that walking is the best cardio for weight loss is..
It is BY FAR the easiest form of cardio to be consistent with.
You may have heard the term with regards to nutrition “the best diet is one that you can maintain for a lifetime.”
This statement rings true for cardio as well, or for any sort of training regimen for that matter including resistance/strength training.
The best form of cardio is one that you can maintain and stick to for a lifetime.
Walking is readily available right outside your door, so you can’t use the “eh I don't want to drive over to the gym,” excuse.
And it produces minimal levels of stress and strain on the body while still placing adequate stress on the cardiovascular system.
So you can do it pretty much everyday without being too sore.
In the end, for these reasons, the BEST cardio for weight loss is walking.
Now, I’m not saying other forms of cardio all suck. If you love riding your Peloton, or your elliptical, those are both fine options.
But for the overwhelming majority of people whose goal is to lose weight, walking is the best cardio option.
“But how much walking?’ You might be wondering
In terms of step goal, the typical number that gets thrown around is 10,000 steps per day.
However, everyone is starting at a different place in their fitness journey. So it would make sense that everyone would have a different step goal.
I explain, in-depth, how to calculate your own step goal in my FREE Fat Loss Program.
So if your goal is to lose weight, you can get information on how to calculate your step goal along with how to calculate your calorie deficit AND three strength training workouts!
Hit the link below for your own FREE copy!
https://www.kevinfinnfitness.com/mailing-list
Thanks so much for reading! I hope this helps you and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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