Have i got this right?

[Tinkabee]

we had our cardiovascular sports cut for the last 3 weeks. things like running and netball. so i have stepped up room exercises. i do 100 sit ups, 30 minutes yoga, 30 press ups every day so that i dont get flabby. but i need both types of exercise right? if i do weights and stuff with no cardivascular i'm building muscles but not burning fat so not making much difference really? coz even tho i'm doing these exercises in my room i dont see any improvement in fat loss although there is more defenition in muscle? Ugh, i'm lost!!!! <IMG SRC="confused.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

if i started doing 20mins cycling a day aswell as my other exercise would that me better?

[Susie]

moving to sports and fitness

[Tinkabee]

SORRY SUSIE!

[Alistair]

Basically, yes.
Building muscle and maintaining it does burn calories - look at the amount body builders eat! But Cardiovascular exercise burns a lot a lot of calories, and is the only type of exercise that effectivly burns fat.
Although as they say, Fat burns in a CHO flame. So if you don't eat any carbs your body is unable to effectivly metabolise the fat stored in your body.

[buglove]

sorry to ask but what sort of exercises are cardiovascular?

[Alistair]

Exercises of a slightly lower intensity, that you sustain for long periods of time.

i.e. walking, jogging, slowish running, rowing cycling, swimming.

[kathryn]

So 45 mins of cycling every day is good for losing weight...Yes?

[Smash]

Originally posted by kathryn:
<STRONG>So 45 mins of cycling every day is good for losing weight...Yes?</STRONG>

Yes, but it would depend on your fitness already.
If you are starting out, that could be overkill. 'Going for the burn' is common but it's unlikely you will sustain it.
2-3 times a week on a regular basis is better than week intervals of frantic cycling.
Also, cycling everyday means you will be exerting the same muscles every day, you need to rest and vary the muscles that you work.
Variety is the spice of life and all that.
Find something you enjoy doing, but vary your exercises so you don't become bored.

[Alessandro]

Originally posted by Miss Quoted:
<STRONG>


Also, cycling everyday means you will be exerting the same muscles every day, you need to rest and vary the muscles that you work.
Variety is the spice of life and all that.
Find something you enjoy doing, but vary your exercises so you don't become bored.</STRONG>

Well, it depends on how hard she's doing it. If she's exercising at a low heart rate (maybe less that 120 beats per minute) and low resistance , than you can do it almost everyday. You will be sore the first week or so if you do this because your muscles aren't used to it but you'll get past it. Muscles only really start to tear when you do high intensity, high stress workouts (anaerobic), which is why those build muscle. Go slow and steady to start out and you should be fine.

Miss Quoted is right, variety is what keeps you on a schedule. Mix it up and then the gym becomes less of a chore.

[Smash]

Yeah, it's just that if she is just starting out it's best to go slow and build from there.
Some people go a bit mad at first, get sore and decide that cycling isn't for them.

Maybe that's just me <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">