Do I need to do cardio if I’m trying to gain weight?

Yes, it is recommended. Cardio is not only for people needing to lose weight; it conditions the heart and lungs and increases efficiency of the entire cardiovascular system. If your goal is weight gain, you can reduce the time and possibly the intensity of cardiorespiratory training, but maintaining the recommended two and a half hours per week of cardio set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a good idea. Cardio helps to increase the stroke volume, which means there will be more oxygen and nutrients delivered throughout the body to the cells. In many cases, this can work to decrease recovery time. It is also important to know that weight gain will be dependent on the amount of calories you take in compared to the amount of calories you burn. In order for the body to grow tissues, you need to consume more calories than you are burning. It is recommended that 1.6-2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day be consumed to help meet the nutrient needs of the muscles.