Losing bodyfat is just a matter of creating a calorie deficiet
**, so, no, cardio is not at all required.
I have lost huge amounts of bodyfat with no exercise at all when I was restricted from doing so. I created a positive environment for fat loss with my nutrition and supplementation instead.
I think there are few fitness experts (Jillian included as I see her mentioned) who do not claim that diet is responsible for about 80% of body composition results.
Obviously everyone is different but I personally need no exercise at all to lose or maintain my bodyfat %.
I would never dispute that exercise has many benefits other than helping burn calories, but in the grand scheme of things, a intense hour long workout burns enough calories to allow me only 6 Godiva chocolates. That hardly seems worth it! LOL
Don't get me wrong, I exercise because I love it and because I know it is good for my general health and well being. I love cardio and resistance training. I crave the feeling of moving my body. I love how cardio makes me feel energized/happy and how resistance training allows me to create almost any specific shape change in my body (within genetic reason). Much to my dismay, it cannot make me 2" taller, provide me with a D cup at 15% bodyfat or make my ankle bones smaller!
But, if I cannot exercise (which has been common with my chronic condition over the past few years), it does not stop me from being able to lean out.
**I do not mean to make fat loss sound simple. I do not think it is as straight forward as calories in and calories out. I know many people (including some VFers) struggle to lose weight no matter how clean they eat. But I didn't want to get into a big debate about the importance of all of the things that can influence "calorie deficeit", so I just used that term. I have personally been the unhappy victim of weight gain induced by hormone imbalance, so I aware that many factors go into the equation.
Any workouts that you do enjoy Christina will certainly help, so just keep up with your Slim Series, Jari, barre workouts, etc. Maybe mix things up (sticking with what you enjoy) if you feel you might be in a rut. (BTW: Jari & SS get my HR up without formal cardio too.)
HTH
Deb