A good cardio workout is one of the corner stones of weight loss. It's almost impossible to lose weight without some form of cardio training. But you need to know how to use cardio to burn fat, because surprisingly enough - just running/walking/swimming is not enough.
First, for those who don't already know the answer: "Why do I need cardio to burn fat?" We need cardio because in our daily routine we don't use enough energy to do so. Most diets are designed to lower our calorie consumption but that's not enough. You still need a way to actually use fat cells and that's where the cardiovascular workouts come in. A proper cardio session should "cost" you around 600 calories, When you're on a diet, most of these 600 calories come from fat cells.
So this is why you need cardio to burn fat, But now there's another question: "How to use cardio to burn fat?" As I said before, simply running on a treadmill won't do the job. First there is a matter of heart rate, If you want to burn fat you should keep your heart rate between 75-85% of your max heart rate. If your heart rate goes above 85% you will be very hungry when you finish your workout. In addition to monitoring your heart rate you should eat right. Eating the right foods before and after a workout is very effective. For example, if you eat a lot of sugar before your cardio exercise you'll have a boost of energy at the beginning of your workout but you will feel very tired very quickly. Same goes for coffee or energy drinks. You should get to your workout in a stable state, Eat carbs an hour or so before your workout this will help your cardio to burn fat. You will have sufficient amount of energy, so your muscles won't work as much as your heart will. This is exactly where you want your body to be when using cardio to burn fat.
You should also try to eat high protein, low carb foods after your workout. The likes of eggs, fish or even a yogurt will do the trick. Protein feeds the muscles, including the heart, while carbs will become unnecessary energy which will later transform into fat cells. Though you could feel hungry after a cardio session, try to follow these guidelines and avoid carbs. There are some other advantages to doing cardio to burn fat. One last overlooked advantage is the feeling after a workout. If you do your cardio workout early in the day it will give an energy boost that can get your day going. If you do your cardio workout in the evening, You will probably sleep better that night. Sleeping after a good cardio workout is very good for your body, I can assure you waking up the next day will feel more energetic than usual. I hope you now have a better grasp of the importance of cardio to burn fat.
