Hi Nelson,

I have mild lipoatrophy. I work out three times a week with weights, and three times a week cardio, taking one day off. My questions is: Should I lay off the cardio given that lipo = loss of subcutaneous fat? I would like to be able to just eat more to make up for lost calories as I enjoy running/cardio, but am unsure on what is the advice for those of us with lipo as it concerns cardio. Thanks.

Moderate cardiovascular exercise is good for stamina, lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, blood sugar and burning visceral fat. However, there are concerns that it may worsen lipoatrophy (fat loss under the skin). In a recently published study, the loss of SAT (subcutaneous adipose tissue) was not significant after 12 weeks of cardiovascular exercise. I think the benefits outweigh any risks, so stick with it. However, do not over do it to the point that you start losing lean body mass or you are getting tired after a work out. I also tend to favor low impact cardiovascular exercise over the high impact kind (like jogging) because many of us may have more joint related problems and osteopenia that may make us more prone to fracturers. I love the elliptical trainers at the gym since they are so low impact and can really give you a good work out without exposing your joints to too much stress.