Do you actually need cardio?

[markymark]

I work out a few times a week (well 3 or 4 times). I only perform resistance exercises and I'm in great shape.

However, others at my local gym also perform cardio work - the bike, treadmill, rower etc. But if I'm not overweight and I'm in shape why do cardio work? What is all the point about working up a sweat if I don;t need it?

[Graeme Marsh]

All depends why you are training Mark - if you are looking to powerlift then probably no point. If you are looking for more rounded fitness then cardiovascular work - in particular anaerobic endurance can help with fitness, fat loss, and sports performance. Steady-state aerobic work can stress the adrenals and lead to high cortisol levels that are catabolic and generally undesirable.
With my clients we achieve rounded fitness through circuits and resistance workouts that induce high levels of metabolic stress, this produces excellent fat loss benefits, improves fitness, check out one of my recent blog posts for an example. strongerandfitter.blogspot.com.

If you are lean and in good shape then it sounds like you are managing your diet well and I wouldn't give too much thought to it.

[Pedaltothemetal]

I once went to a holistic health seminar and the overwhelming opinion of the physiologists there was that aerobic exercise helped people de-stress. My understanding of cortisol is that this increases stress levels.

How can the same type of exercise increase and decrease stress at the same time?? :confused:

[Reaper33X]

I know a fantastic personal trainer in Dublin that can shed tons of wait off people with a balance of diet and resistance training only.

The guy's a genuis, he doesnt' encorporate cardio into his sessions, yet he transforms peoples' body shape (for the better)

[Cheshire Cat]

Depends on your goals. To be "fit" then having decent endurance and cardiovascular abilty is important IMO, so just doing weight training may not be optimal in this regard.

Weight training is great however, helps raise your metabolic rate, both short term (directly from the exercise) and long term (increased muscle mass).