It is safe to assume that anaerobic exercise (cardio) affects every single aspect of your life. It determines your alertness, cognitive ability, endurance, and health. It’s a form of exercise, the effects of which you can feel every single day, regardless of what you do.
Now, some of the most popular forms of cardio are swimming, running, and cycling, but there are so many other options that you may find far more interesting.
In order to help you out in this regard, we will give you a couple of hints that will make the idea of cardio exercise easier to bear. With that in mind and without further ado, here are some of the best ways to build the best possible cardio workout routine.
Incorporate It Into Your Lifestyle
A cardio exercise doesn’t necessarily have to be something you dedicate a certain part of your day toward. Instead of going for a jog or running on a treadmill, you can try something a lot simpler.
For instance, you could try walking everywhere. Sure, your workplace might be an hour away, but why not park a bit further away and walk to and from work at least this short distance.
You could also try cycling, going to the swimming pool, or taking evening walks. Getting a pet that you can take for an evening stroll is both emotionally satisfying and great for your overall cardiovascular health.
In fact, some studies suggest that jogging is worse than both running/sprinting and fast-walking. It saves your joints and tendons, as well as boosts your overall conditioning. However, to give these effects, the distances need to be serious.
Try Playing a Sport
One thing that the biggest misconceptions about cardio are that the majority of cardio exercises are boring. However, this is not the whole picture. What is it that makes cardio boring?
Well, for many people, it’s the inability to see the purpose behind this particular exercise.
Just think about it, why can’t you run without listening to music, audiobook, or a podcast, but once you add this piece of media to the equation, the process becomes quite simple?
Why do some people prefer to ride a stationary bike in front of the screen and see the best results this way? The truth is that it’s because you get to focus on something else, something that makes sense or generates value.
This is why playing a sport like racquetball can become an infinitely more fun source of cardio. Once you have the rules and techniques to keep in mind, it becomes simpler to burn calories and build up your endurance.
Now add to this a scoring system, and you won’t even realize just how much you’re actually achieving.
Do It Indoors
Some people dislike the idea of going to the gym or even running outside. They might be too self-conscious or hate that they have to get dressed up every time before going for a workout.
They might also hate the idea of commuting to a place before starting their cardio exercise. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to do cardio indoors, even at home.
For starters, there are two incredibly space-efficient forms of indoor cardio, even if you don’t want to spend money on a stationary bike or a treadmill. What you can do is get yourself a $2 jump rope and get some simple padding.
Those who are in for something more ambitious (and more fun) can add a boxing bag to their home and buy some boxing gloves. Just make sure to wear wraps every time (there are tutorials on how to properly wrap your hands on YouTube) to avoid hurting your wrists.
Also, there are a lot of HIIT exercises like burpees and jumping jacks which both boost your cardio and burn calories. Since they’re calisthenic exercises, you don’t have to waste money on expensive equipment.
Progression Is Easy to Measure
When it comes to cardio, progression is relatively easy to measure. You can either measure it in distances or time/pace. It is also quite easy to plan out your advancement.
For instance, if you run for 2 miles on your first day, it’s not unreasonable to set your goal at 2.2 miles on the next run. Then, for the third session, you can either repeat or increase the total distance once again.
Remember that regardless of what or how you train, there’s nothing more important than pushing your limits. Sure, professional athletes set a mileage goal and stick to it. For instance, in combat sports running 5 miles is a golden standard of road work.
However, keep in mind that this is probably not their only training for the day. During their evening training, they’re probably increasing their milestones.
Schedule Your Cardio
Another problem with cardio exercise (other than the belief that it has to be boring) is the fact that it takes time. Running 8 miles (at a slow-to-moderate pace) can take you up to an hour. Driving a stationary bike for less than 40-ish minutes is really not that effective either.
This means that you might have a hard time scheduling your cardio training. The way you schedule this may determine your approach to this matter and decide how often you choose to skip it.
Since consistency is pivotal, there’s nothing more important than managing this the right way around.
Also, keep in mind that the distances you run might affect your choice of footwear. Long-distance running shoes and sprinting shoes are not the same things.
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Cardio doesn’t have to be boring or tedious. In fact, there are so many fun forms of cardio for you to explore. It is safe to assume that there’s something for everyone.
Your main objective is to create a regimen that you can stick to for months and years, not choose one that will give you the most impressive immediate results.
So, make sure to consider everything, from how physically taxing it is all the way to how hard it is to fit this into your schedule. This is really the only way for you to make it work.
