Cardiovascular workouts or simply, cardio refers to exercises that increases your heart rate for long period of time.
There are various forms of cardio exercises like running, jogging, riding a stationary bicycle or swimming. Cardio vascular exercises are best known for their effectiveness in aiding weight loss.
Gym enthusiasts and beginners trust cardio alike and make sure that they perform a set of cardio exercises before jumping into weight training.
As popular as cardio is with fitness enthusiasts, it is extremely important for those who only perform cardiovascular exercises as a part of their workout.
However, cardio is also replete with disadvantages and risks. Here are some reasons why you should avoid the hitherto worshiped form of workout.
1. More time, less benefits
Running is one of the most popularly known and practiced forms of cardio. But when we run, a flight or fight response is activated in the body and the hormones that are secreted while running along with the stress that develops aren’t worth the effort. Not to forget, running for an hour can help burn 300 to 500 calories depending upon various factors. The amount of time invested in this activity is far too much in comparison to the number of calories burnt which makes cardio even less desirable. One can burn far more calories by simply monitoring their calorie intake.
2. Terms and conditions
Cardio can help you lose weight and there is no doubt to that. However, it is important to acknowledge the prerequisites that need to be fulfilled for cardio to be effective. In order for cardio to show results, it is important to have a good and balanced diet plan that omits low quality foods. Proper strength training that helps improve lean muscle mass and a good sleep cycle are imperative to reap the maximum benefits out of a good cardio session.
3. Overtraining
Cardio is all about performing considerable amounts of exercise for long periods of time. It can often lead to stress and can easily lead to overtraining. Both these factors contribute equally towards negating the existing benefits of exercise that you think you have gained while training hard for long hours. Disturbed stress levels can further interfere with the hypothalamic pituitary axis and lead to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can trigger unusual weight gain in addition to depression and other digestive disorders.
4. Slow fat burning
Cardio exercises can slow down the process of fat burning. Yes, you heard it right. Even though cardio is greatly effective in aiding weight loss, it is because it aids burning of calories. It encourages the body to hold on to fat and break down muscle instead. This is highly unfavorable and the inverted version of the process that helps healthy weight loss. Losing muscle mass worsens the chances of losing weight and isn’t recommended.
5. Loss of endurance
Cardio exercises require a lot of energy and they help build endurance in the body. If one keeps running regularly for days, then endurance is built up and also boosted. But once you stop running, even for a short period of time, the endurance is lost and you are back to square one. When you decide to resume your everyday cardio, you might get disappointment and a lot of demotivation. Also, brisk walking can provide you with the exact same benefits as running or other forms of cardio without the negative effects.
