If you’ve ever wondered why you’re hitting the treadmill hard but the scale just won’t budge? You’re not alone. Let’s dive into how cardio “might” be sabotaging your weight loss goals and what you can do about it.
The Cardio Conundrum
Cardio is often hailed as the holy grail of weight loss (after fixing your diet that is 🙂). Whether its walking, running, rowing or cycling, it’s a great method for burning calories. But the kicker is… while cardio can burn away those calories during your session, it might be working against you once you’re done.
Feeling Wiped Out?
After a tough cardio session, it’s normal to feel tired. Your body has worked hard, and now it needs to recover. This fatigue can lead to a decrease in your overall daily activity. Instead of being up and about, you might find yourself lounging more, reducing your non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) – the calories you burn just by moving around throughout the day.
What is NEAT?
NEAT includes all the little movements you do: walking to the kitchen, fidgeting, taking the stairs, etc. When cardio leaves you exhausted, your NEAT can take a significant hit. This means that even though you’re burning calories during your workout, you’re saving them the rest of the day by being less active. The result? A lower total daily energy expenditure and potentially stalled weight loss.
The Balancing Act: Cardio Vs Daily Movement
So, what’s the solution? It’s all about balance. Here are a few tips to keep your energy up and your daily activity high:
Moderate Your Cardio
Instead of long and grueling cardio sessions, opt for cardio exercises that you have a better recovery with for example, many fine incline treadmill walking is much easier to recover from rather than something such as the Stairmaster. But… there is a trade-off in the fact that walking on the treadmill takes longer to burn the same amount of calories than the Stairmaster, so you need to factor in how much time you have available.
Keep Moving
Other methods include; doing the cardio in the evening after your day is done ORRR making sure to simply move during the day regardless of feeling a bit exhausted (but this is harder than it sounds)
So you would need to likely, set reminders to stand up and walk around every hour. Take short walks, even if it’s just around your office or home. Every bit really does count in the long term.
Listen to Your Body
Pay attention to how your body feels. If you’re constantly exhausted, it might be time to scale back on the cardio and focus on other forms of exercise, like strength training, which can boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories at rest. Along with making sure you are improving your diet and gradually reducing calories from that end too, as cardio alone makes it harder to lose weight for most people.
Do you need help getting in shape and losing weight?
Feeling stuck in your fitness journey? Sometimes a little guidance can make all the difference.
As a fitness coach, I can help you find the right balance of cardio, strength training, and daily activity to reach your goals without burning out. Let’s work together to unlock your best self! Reach out to me today and take the first step towards a healthier, more active lifestyle. Contact me now to get started.
