How much cardio do you need to lose weight?

The amount of cardiovascular exercise needed to lose weight depends on how many calories a person consumes and how many he burns. Sixty minutes of moderate-to-intense exercise on most days of the week is recommended by both the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association.

Beginners can do cardio exercises three to four days per week at a moderate intensity. As a person progresses, he can add time to each workout, exercise more days per week and try new training methods, such as different forms of cardio and interval training. Recommended forms of cardio include running, swimming and bicycling.