Chapter 15Fitness & Exercise

Should I do cardio or weights for weight loss?

Weights preserve muscle in a deficit (so you lose fat, not muscle). Cardio adds daily calorie burn and heart health. Do both — 3 strength sessions plus 2–3 cardio sessions per week is a sweet spot.

Follow-up questions

Does cardio kill gains?

Excessive cardio in a deficit can. Moderate (2–3 sessions of 30–45 min) is fine and improves recovery.

Fasted cardio for fat loss?

No advantage over fed cardio in real-world studies. Do whichever you can sustain.

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