🏃‍♂️ Why Cardio Alone Won’t Get You Lean

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Why Cardio Alone Won’t Get You Lean

If you’ve been relying on cardio to burn fat, you might be spinning your wheels—literally.

Cardio has its place, but without strength training, you’re missing the biggest piece of the fat loss puzzle.

Here’s why:

Muscle Burns More Calories – The more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns at rest. Strength training builds muscle; cardio doesn’t.

Cardio Alone Can Lead to Muscle Loss – If you only focus on cardio and cut calories aggressively, your body might burn muscle along with fat. Less muscle = slower metabolism.

Strength Training Shapes Your Body – Ever seen someone who lost weight but still doesn’t look "fit"? That’s what happens when you lose fat but have no muscle underneath.

Best Strategy: Combine strength training (3-4x per week) with some cardio (low-intensity walks or short bursts of HIIT). That’s the real formula for a lean, strong body.

Must Know: The Best Time of Day to Work Out for Fat Loss

Morning? Evening? When’s the best time to hit the gym for fat loss?

The answer: Whenever you’ll be the most consistent.

Morning workouts: Help burn more fat due to fasted training, improve mood, and set the tone for the day.

Afternoon workouts: Strength and performance peak later in the day, making heavier lifts easier.

Evening workouts: Great for stress relief but can disrupt sleep if done too late.

Bottom line: The "best time" is the time you’ll actually do it—consistency beats perfection.

Question from Our Readers:

“How do I stay on track when traveling?”

• Brian, 45, from Chicago, IL

Traveling doesn’t have to derail your progress! Here’s how to stay on track:

Stick to protein-heavy meals – Prioritize lean protein at every meal to stay full and maintain muscle.

Control portions – You don’t have to eat “perfectly,” but avoiding excessive portions will keep calories in check.

Use hotel gyms or bodyweight workouts – Push-ups, squats, and planks can be done anywhere.

Move as much as possible – Walk whenever you can. Every step adds up!

Enjoy your trip, but don’t let "vacation mode" turn into "undo all progress" mode.

Fit Trivia: Which action star performs his own insane stunts, including hanging off a plane mid-flight?

Answer: Tom Cruise! For Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Cruise clung to the outside of a real plane as it took off—no CGI, no stunt double. His training includes gymnastics, rock climbing, and sprinting to stay in top shape for these death-defying feats.

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Publisher: Ryan Engel

Editor: Michael Pender

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