Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should really consider HIIT-type cardio. Much more effective than straight running/elliptical/bike, and more time efficient.

This, x1000. When I switched from phoning it in on the treadmill to doing HIIT with some moderate free weights, I lost 20 pounds over about 8-9 months.

I absolutely agree with this. HIIT is awesome if you are busy and trying to get healthy/in shape/lose weight.

The rowing machine is great - IF you have proper form. I watch people at my gym use the rowing machine and they're at real risk of back injury because they do it wrong (I rowed competitively in high school and row with an adult club now). Form is important, and don't use the highest intensity - set the resistance at a 5.

That said, intervals on the erg are a great cardio work out and build arm strength at the same time.

Agree that for starters, if you haven't already, you'll probably need to change your diet. But yes, you can lose weight doing cardio only. The thing is that you still may not have a really great body type. A lot of runners are sort of "skinny fat." I'm a competitive runner myself and while I'm thin, I'm not extremely toned. It depends what your priorities are. My priority is being fast at distance running somthis doesn't bother me, because I'm getting the training results that I want. YMMV.