Variety is the spice of life...
and cardio workouts! Change up your cardio to keep
it fun and satisfying. Here are just a few ways to do
cardio.
Running:
The advantage of running is that you already know how to do it. Also, running requires no advanced equipment. There is really no secret, just put one foot in front of the other quickly. The disadvantage is that running can be hard on the knees. We recomend running no more than once per week to aviod excessive strain on the knees.
Swimming:
Swimming is a great workout, and it is very easy on the joints. However, you have to have access to a pool in order to swim. Also, there is some technique involved in swimming properly and you may have to take a class in order to learn.
Rollerblading/Rollerskating:
Despite being much more popular among women than men according to the National Sporting Goods Association, this form of exercise is nonetheless a great cardio workout for both sexes! This can be a very fun method of cardio, but it also has one of the highest injury rates of any form of cardio. Wear a helmet and kneepads if you want to rollerskate!
Cycling/Spinning:
Cycling can be great fun, and a great way to get around without having to pay $4.00 a gallon for gas. However, there are some downsides to cycling. First, you have to have a bicycle and a good place to ride it. Second, the injury rates are relativly high so you need to wear a helmet! Third, since you have a machine helping you do the movement it is more effiicient than walking, and thus burns less calories. That is to say it takes fewer calories to cycle one mile than it does to run one mile, and since we are trying to burn calories this can be a drawback. Still, if you have a decent bicycle and a place to ride this can be a very fun form of cardio. Spinning is just a stationary bike class led by a fitness instructor. You burn more calories this way because the instructor is pushing you to achieve. Also you do not need to own a bicycle or have a place to ride. You do, however, need to have a gym that offers spinning classes, and not all of them do.
Cardio Machines:
These machines can be found in almost every gym. They include the elliptical machine, the stairmaster, and the treadclimer, to name just a few. These machines can provide good workouts, but you have to be a member of a gym to use them. Follow the instructions on the machine to get the most benefit.
These are just a few of the literally hundreds of ways to do cardio exercise. Anything that gets your heart rate up and forces the body to burn calories is a cardio exercise, so it's best to get out there and find what works for you!
