TrojanMan60563

I don't like cardio and choose to use diet to drop weight rather then cardio. However I want to do enough to gain the heart health benefit from doing cardio.

My problem is I am confused if cardio is keeping your heart rate in a range, or that plus a combination of certain exercises like running, riding a bike, whatever. I have used a Polar watch and I keep my heart rate between 120-150 during my weight training. I typically take 1 min or less breaks between heavy sets. I keep reps 6-8 on most lifts so the heavy lifting really gets my heart pumping. My question is if I lift for approx an hour a day, and my heart rate is in the moderate cardio range during my entire weight training is that considered cardio? Am I getting that cardiac benefit from lifting weights, and no need to consider any traditional cardio?

Any thoughts or facts on this would be great. I am not inclined to do cardio and only do it for the heart health benefit of it. So if my weight training is doing my heart justice then I will feel a lot better pushing myself away fromt he cardio methods most of us do not enjoy.