Should I Do Cardio if I Want to Lose Weight after Having a Baby?

Should I Do Cardio if I Want to Lose Weight after Having a Baby?

Sep 3, 2021 mindpump

There is a ton of information out there about how to lose weight after having a baby. In fact, it can be downright confusing to read all of the contradictory information about how to approach post-pregnancy weight loss. One of the biggest debates you will encounter about weight loss in general is the question of whether or not cardio is an effective long term weight loss solution. Should you do cardio if you want to lose weight after having a baby? There are some benefits to doing cardio but there are also problems that come with too much cardio. Ultimately, there are specific ways you should train if you want to lose weight after having a baby.

Potential benefits of cardio

Cardio is touted by many as the best way to lose weight after having a baby. In fact, you can find thousands of exercise videos and programs designed completely around the idea of cardio helping with weight loss. When you are just getting started with the process of losing weight after having a baby, cardio will help you burn excess calories. In addition, cardio can be good for your heart and lung health. It is important to get up and move every day – even if you are not doing it with the goal of losing weight. Long term, however, cardio alone simply will not provide you with the weight loss results you are looking for.

Problems that come with too much cardio

When you first start a cardio program, you will burn a lot of calories. If your body is not accustomed to moving very often it will respond to the increase in activity. As you do more cardio, however, your body will start to adapt. This is why one person can burn 700 calories in a spin class while another person only burns 200. The body is good at adapting in an effort to conserve as many calories as possible. If you are consistent with a cardio routine your body will continually adapt and make it more and more difficult for you to see results. Cardio can provide benefits for your overall health but it is not a stand-alone option for weight loss.

How to train if you want to lose weight after having a baby

The key to quick and sustained weight loss is to keep your body from adapting to your exercise routine. Your body is smart and will quickly adjust to repetitive elements of your fitness routine. The impact that cardio has on your body is the same even if you change up the type of cardio you do. Resistance training, on the other hand, can be customized indefinitely to keep your body guessing. If you want to lose weight after having a baby – and keep it off – the best thing you can do is follow a workout program that focuses primarily on resistance training. As you build muscle your metabolism will increase and make it easier for you to keep the weight off long-term.

You do need some cardio in your life to maintain basic wellness. However, cardio should not be your primary form of exercise for weight loss. You will have better short term and long-term results by focusing your efforts on resistance training. MAPS Fitness offers a long list of fitness programs designed to keep your body guessing so you avoid plateaus and continue moving toward your goals.