I was talking about working out with my coworker, who is a personal trainer. I told her I was doing an at-home spin class (just 20 minutes, but enough to get me sweaty). She replied that’s fantastic, but she doesn’t encourage doing cardio every day; I neglected to ask why. These are the only exercises I enjoy right now, and I find that starting my day with a fun spin class helps me stick to my good eating goals. Is there a risk in performing cardio every day, specifically 20 minutes of moderate level indoor cycling?
Speaking of heart health, rather than weight reduction, we should be performing 20-30 minutes of cardio per day, at least 5 days a week. The level of exertion you describe seems perfect. So I would not stop.
Most fitness experts I’ve spoken with encourage weight/resistance training in addition to cardio for weight loss, so this could be what she meant. Personally, I’ve found it difficult to find a program that keeps you interested, so if you discover one, go for it.
There’s nothing wrong with doing 20-30 minutes of cardio each day, especially if you enjoy it! I’m usually sceptical of personal trainers’ recommendations unless I know their credentials; anyone can obtain an online degree and call yourself a personal trainer.
You can perform cardio every day as long as it isn’t too strenuous. The body needs to recover. It is OK if you are recuperating well on a daily basis. If you are not recuperating, take a day off.
Cardio may not be suitable for daily exercise due to its high intensity, high impact (e.g., jogging), or long duration. The other major issue is that many individuals dislike cardio, and doing it every day is a psychological recipe for failure. But you don’t have any of these concerns, so I don’t see a problem. You enjoy what you’re doing; it’s moderate and healthful, which is excellent.
Exercise is only beneficial to your health if your body can recover from it; therefore, excessive exercise is harmful. However, if you are in good health and do not experience any negative side effects, 20 minutes of cardio each day should suffice. Most people are capable of performing at that level and recovering entirely. I agree that a combination of aerobic and strength training is preferable, however this is purely for optimisation purposes. If cardio is the only exercise you enjoy right now, it’s best to stick with it and reap the health advantages rather than hating your workout.
That degree of cardio is good for heart health and cardiovascular fitness, but it can induce muscle and fat loss unless you eat a high-protein diet. As others have stated, weight training/resistance training is definitely the best, but it should be combined with some cardio as well.
I would guess your coworker is concerned about the potential muscle loss connected with an aerobic weight loss program.