Cardio Fasting: Is It Safe?

There are many ways to perform exercise for physical activity and overall good health. One such technique is cardio fasting. Read on to find out exactly what it is and whether it can benefit you in your workout routine.

What is cardio fasting?

Well, the fasting part is just what it sounds like. When you fast, you are often going without food in an attempt to achieve something. Cardio refers to aerobic activity that increases the cardiovascular endurance and also helps you to lose weight.

Cardio fasting involves both of these. In essence it refers to exercising on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. The theory is that if you work out before you have had time to ingest any calories, the body will burn stored fat for fuel and you can give your weight loss a boost. Of course, you will have to perform this cardio fasting three to five times a week.

Let’s back up a bit now. When you go to bed, you have probably not eaten a thing for at least an hour or two before retiring. After six to eight hours of sleep you will have been without food for almost ten when you wake up. The body is hungry and needs food to rev up that metabolism again.

According to those who swear by cardio fasting, getting in a 30 to 45 minute workout first thing in the morning helps to start the metabolism – not with food you just ate, but with stored fat.

On the other hand…

Here is what others are saying. Cardio fasting is good in theory, but you have to consider the following:

• You are engaging in a shorter workout – Because your body is depleted of nourishment, you will tire out easier and be more tired after the workout, which can put a kink in your day’s activities.
• You are hungrier than before – After ten hours and almost an additional hour of hard activity, you will want to eat the world if it were served to you on a platter. This can derail your diet plans from the start if you don’t have something ready to be eaten.
• You are not making that much of a gain – You could be sacrificing your health for just a few calories. Since your workouts are shorter, you are not burning as many calories to start with. First thing in the morning you won’t go as hard and fast as you would later in the day. And, if you aren’t eating enough protein, you will experience cravings and muscle mass problems. You could actually be breaking down valuable muscle by skimping on the protein with a regimen like this.

Are you looking for a new way to ramp up your workouts or weight loss? Consider cardio fasting. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks and consult your doctor before trying it.

That’s it for now. Until next time Divas, wear your heels well and Be Blessed!

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