Tuesday Tip: How Much Cardio Is Actually Enough?

Tuesday Tip: How Much Cardio Is Actually Enough? ❤️‍🔥

Cardio gets a bad rap, either it’s too much, or it’s too little, or it prevents muscle gain, or wrecks your hormones, or even wastes your time and it seems it’s trendy now to avoid cardio. But is it really bad? Nope!

1. Cardio Is Necessary (Not Optional)

Cardio isn’t punishment and it isn’t the enemy of strength. Your heart, lungs, muscles, mitochondria, and brain all need it. Regular cardio lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and early death and improves performance both in and out of the gym.

2. The Guidelines are the minimum

For general health, the evidence-based minimum is 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity cardio, or

75 minutes/week of vigorous cardio, or A mix of both (1 min vigorous ≈ 2 min moderate).

These are minimums but being below them doesn’t make it pointless – every bit counts. Hitting them is great but going beyond them if you have the time and capacity can bring extra benefits.

3. More Can Help

Up to approx 300 minutes/week is associated with greater improvements in aerobic fitness, VO₂ max (a strong predictor of longevity), and mental health. Beyond that, benefits tend to plateau so you don’t need to go mental.

4. What Actually Counts as Cardio

Cardio is any activity that raises your heart rate and keeps it there. Moderate is roughly 50–70% of max HR, whilst vigorous is 70–85%.

Options include brisk walking, cycling, swimming, hiking, running, intervals, rowing, dancing—if your heart rate is up, it counts. Short bouts matter too and even 2–10 minute bits add up, especially across the day.

5. It’s About Fitness

Intensity matters – the goal isn’t just to ‘do cardio’ but to Iomprove aerobic capacity, build mitochondrial density and increase VO₂ max. Ultimately you want to be able to do more in life with less effort

Cardio isn’t punishment and just because it’s not trendy on social media doesn’t make it pointless . Aim for consistency first, and do something, progress when you can, and train in ways you actually enjoy. Your future heart will thank you!

Happy Tuesday 🤗xx