Why You Should Never Just Do Cardio
Picture this: you’re at the gym, headphones in, ready to tackle your workout. You head straight to the treadmill and start pounding away at a steady pace. You’re feeling good, heart rate’s up, sweat’s dripping down your face.
Then, having spent a gazillion hours hogging the cardio equipment and creating a line for the treadmill as long as the Golden Gate Bridge, you step down and head home, exhausted but feeling oh so accomplished…
Nothing wrong with any of that, right? Well, not necessarily. Have you ever stopped to wonder if just doing cardio is enough?
Spoiler alert: it’s not! While cardio is important, there are other types of exercise that are equally as important to include in your routine. In this article, we’re going to explore the reasons why only focusing on cardio is a pretty bad idea.
7 reasons why you shouldn’t just do cardio
1. Cardio only works certain muscles
Let’s talk about muscle groups. When you only focus on cardio, you’re neglecting other important muscle groups. Sure, your legs might be strong from all that running, but what about your arms, back, and core?
Strength training is crucial for overall fitness and health. Plus, who doesn’t want to show off some toned arms and legs?
2. It’s boring
Let’s face it, doing the same cardio routine day in and day out can get pretty boring. And boredom can lead to burnout, which can lead to skipping workouts altogether. Mix it up with some weightlifting, yoga, or even a dance class. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
(If you’re interested in doing something a little more unique to get in shape, why not look into joining a pole-dancing class? Pole Model has a database of pole-dancing classes in all the major cities in the US, so you can find a class near you.)
3. Your fitness will plateau
Okay, so let’s say you’re one of those rare people who doesn’t get bored doing the same cardio routine daily. Have you considered that doing the same type of cardio over and over can lead to a plateau in your fitness progress? Mixing up your routine to challenge your body can lead to better results.
4. Injury
Seeing as cardio generally focuses on building the same muscles each time, there’s always the pretty real possibility that this type of repetitive motion will lead to injury.
By incorporating strength training, you’re not only building muscle, but also helping to prevent injury. Because who wants to deal with that? We all know that nothing derails your fitness progress quite like an injury.
5. Strength training can often burn more calories than cardio
If you’re focusing solely on cardio because you want to lose weight, you should know that you could burn an equal amount or more calories through strength and weight training than through cardio.
Strength training not only burns calories during the workout, but also boosts your metabolism for hours after. Can cardio do that? I think not.
6. Body imbalance
Imagine having legs like tree trunks and arms like toothpicks. Not a good look, my friends. You don’t want to be the person at the beach with a jacked lower body and a weak upper body. Trust me, nobody’s impressed by that.
7. You’ll be a machine hog
If you’re only using a select couple of cardio machines, chances are you’re spending a good long while on them.
Hogging the cardio machines in a gym is like being the person who refuses to pass the ball in a game of basketball. Sure, you might be getting some great shots in, but at what cost? The rest of your team is standing around, waiting for their chance to shine.
In the gym, it’s important to be a team player and share the equipment. When you hog a machine, you’re preventing others from being able to use it. That’s a big no-no.
To sum it all up, cardio can be a great way to get your heart pumping and your endorphins flowing. But, let’s not forget about the importance of strength training, flexibility, and balance.
Neglecting these other areas can lead to muscle imbalances, boredom, plateauing, and injury. So, mix it up, try new things, and challenge yourself.