Cardio...help!

[bobbikay]

I have been looking on google for HOURS trying to figure out how much cardio I need a day to lose weight... and I am super frustrated. One site tells me something that makes sense, then the next one convinces me it's a myth, then the next one says the last "myth" is a myth...etc...I'm so confused!! I am a 21 year old woman, 5'7, 139 lbs. Does anyone know how much cardio I REALLY need to do every day in order to lose a few pounds? :)

[boxtops]

To your question - no I don't, but as someone who has battled weight for a long time, I can share my experience. I stopped going to the gym when I realised that cardiovascular workouts make you lean and fit, and change your body shape, but muscle weighs more than fat - so you become fitter but you don't necessarily lose weight. I found that a combination of diet, and walking, is the most effective solution for me.

[sara3]

you're not overweight, btw.

exercise for your well-being, but you don't need to lose weight.

[bobbikay]

I know I'm not overweight, but I was a bit thinner 2 months ago. I just want to lose the excess flub I've gained on my belly and hips, that's all.

[boxtops]

Walking, bobbikay - walking tones the legs too!

[sara3]

are you sure you're not just woman-shaped, instead of a skinny teenager?

[bobbikay]

Yeah, I like walking :) Last year I lost some weight while walking and eating better... but I was doing about 20 minutes of exercise a day, and I'm hearing a lot of "20 minutes a day does nothing for weight loss"... so I don't know if the weight loss was purely from eating better or if the 20 minutes a day actually did something haha

[bobbikay]

I don't want to look like a skinny teenager lol. I just want to lose a few pounds. I have curves and have no intention of looking like a stick

[boxtops]

Twenty minutes a day is better than I can manage at the moment, I'd say that twenty minutes a day every day is certainly good for you!

[bobbikay]

It's hard to fit in much more than half hour at most... I have a 3 year old lol

[carlton23]

I`m certainly not one to talk as I am 5`7" and 13.5st, and not able to walk very well, but I understand that to lose weight walking, one has to walk quite fast to make your heart beat faster than usual, and not a casual stroll to the shops and back. Get swetty baby. Yeah!!!