Playing Your Cardio Right

To many, that half-hour a day is the most enjoyable, most therapeutic part of your agenda. To others, it's as dreadful as taking out the trash and doing the dishes. Yet, like your household chores, you know it's something you simply must do.

Cardiovascular activity, referred to simply as "cardio," should be as much a part of your body-sculpting endeavors as pulling and pushing those metal plates. As often as you're pumping the iron, you should also be pumping your heart.

Unfortunately, Americans today are more glued to the screen, whether it be the television, Nintendo, or yes, even the Internet. It has been concluded that the majority of Americans have insufficient cardiovascular activity in their daily schedules, thus leading to a cartload of various health problems.

The 30 minutes per day that you should reserve for cardio work should always entail exercises that are enjoyable, manageable, and of course, safe.

So if you're ready to get sweaty, here are a few wise choices:

RUNNING (Outdoors): Believe it or not, this exercise reminds me a lot of Howard Stern. Like the infamous DJ, you either love it or hate it. Beyond question, however, is the simple fact that running is a fantastic way to whip you into shape and provide full cardiovascular fitness. Running is a full-body exercise in which only you channel the motion, resistance, and weight distribution. There are no wheels or cycles doing any of the work for you.

Sometimes, running can actually be too rigorous an exercise and for bodybuilders it's been known to foil some of that hard-earned muscle mass. Also, running can take a considerable toll on your joints, particularly your knees and ankles as well as your abused feet.

TREADMILL: This may seem like the equivalent to a run through the park or the neighborhood, and in a lot of ways, it is. Running is the same vigorous exercise whether done outdoors or in. Yet, the treadmill, because of its smooth rubbery conveyor belt is a lot more merciful on your joints. It doesn't wear and tear your body the way running on the tarred street will. There is no pounding-like effect.

However, the treadmill does not offer the natural variations such as hills and curves which provides for a more rigorous workout on the streets. Also, the fresh air that can fill and expand your lungs is not a benefit from an indoor facility.

STAIRMASTER & STEPPERS: Some people refer to these devices simply as "sweat machines." close by. Stairmasters, whether they're the rotating kind or the step versions, are both excellent methods of losing weight and shedding body fat.

Yet, many fitness experts have concluded that stairs work may be insufficient in your quest to get in shape. For one, the exercise relies solely on lower body movement and tends to abandon the upper torso. Too often, people rest their arms on the bars at their sides, taking some of the resistance (your body weight) out of your legs.

STATIONARY BIKES: When you ride the stationary bike, it feels like you aren't going anywhere. That's because you're not. But whether or not you're making strides with your cardiovascular health is another matter. While these bikes are beneficial in raising the heart level, they also provide far less strain on the knees and back than other methods of cardio and are excellent for toning up the quadriceps.

The workout you'll get from a stationary bike, however, is of the low-impact variety and like the scenery in front of you, it may feel like you're not going anywhere, especially if you've set high fitness goals for yourself.

SWIMMING: Go on and make a splash. This is an excellent cardiovascular activity in that it is a total body exercise and hits the various muscles in the body. The water provides an excellent form of resistance that will get your heart pumping in no time. The benefits for the heart and lungs are endless.

As for the down side? There's only one.

Not every fitness club has a swimming pool.

Vitamins & Supplements ? Find a large selection of vitamins and supplements for your nutritional needs. You will find supplements for all your health, sports, bodybuilding & fitness needs. We carry all major name brands. Copyright ApolloSupplements.com - MuscleMaster

In The News:

---

Best way to get fit
Helium
Weights, Cardio, Aerobics etc. Since then I've spent years researching and testing techniques that will allow me to continue to see positive results with as ...
Exercises Tips from a Fitness InstructorChicagoNow (blog)

all 2 news articles »

Zumba classes make fitness fun
San Jose Mercury News
A former high-tech recruiter, Litvin taught aerobics 20 years ago and recently found a new career teaching Zumba throughout the county. ...

Two Foods You Should Never, Ever Eat After Exercise
Food Consumer
Neither traditionally performed aerobic cardio nor conventional strength training will work anything but your slow muscle fibers, and hence has no impact on ...

Fitness Calendar
Asheville Citizen-Times
LATIN AEROBICS: 5 pm Tuesdays and 4 pm Thursdays at Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Day Spa. Call AccessDance WNC at 276-6458 or accessdance@yahoo.com. ...

and more »

Health & Support
South Coast Today
Classes include low-impact aerobics, weights and stretching appropriate for all fitness levels. (508) 295-1567. Marion. Yoga on the Beach: Tim Donohue will ...

and more »

Fresh Meadows gym fills area business void
YourNabe.com
The center offers a range of courses in areas including kick-boxing, boot camp, pilates, Zumba and aerobics. There is a women-only workout room and its ...

Hilton Head Monthly
Banish workout boredom
Hilton Head Monthly
Angela Ellis's Cardio Fight Club is a hybrid of boxing, Eastern-influenced kick-boxing, and martial arts. You won't do any aerobics or dance moves in this ...

Cool PT alternative in summer heat
Hi-Desert Star
“Depending on the size of the group we do a variety of workouts, like ply metrics, aerobic bands, and cardio.� “Being in the water works out your core and ...

Staying fit the fun way
Business Times (subscription)
Derrick Evans aka Mr Motivator, a 1990s household name in the UK famous for wearing zany outfits while teaching aerobics on TV, explains that it is a simple ...

and more »

The best aerobics workshops
The Trinidad Guardian
What are loosely referred to as cardio workouts, are in fact different forms of aerobic training. Aerobic type exercises are referred to as cardio workouts ...

Google News

__________

Aerobic Cross Training for Weight Loss

Do you sometimes get bored with your aerobic exercise? Do You sometimes feel like you're not getting the results you should from your aerobic exercise? If so,... Read More

Are You Making This Cardio Mistake?

Are you exercising for long periods of time to try to burn fat? If you're like most people you probably are, but there is a better way.... Read More

Treadmill Workout Ideas That Make Fitness Fun

Research shows that in order to lose weight safely and keep it off, you need to exercise. And even those who are not overweight benefit from an... Read More

Winter Running: Survival Tips For Your Feet

The days are shorter, the air is colder and the streets are slicker. Yet, many will still brave the cold, damp and dark streets and trails as... Read More

Stay in Shape - Cycling Workouts For the Winter Months

It's that time of year. The time when you decide it's fine to ride in 12 degree weather. The time when your food and water freezes, your... Read More

How To Jump Rope For Health and Fitness

Rope skipping is an excellent cardiovascular exercise according to the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council. It is far less hard on the muscles and bones than... Read More

Maximum Cardio

Depending on your goals and body type, different amounts of cardio may be required. A lean "hard-gainer" trying to add mass may benefit from only one or... Read More

How To Start a Running Program

Running or jogging is one of the best ways there is to lose weight fast. It burns tons of calories and gets your body burning fat. Running... Read More

Walking for Your Health

Walking is the easiest way of exercise because it is accessible at anyplace, anywhere and anytime. Several studies show that walking can:* reduce high cholesterol and improve... Read More

A Cardio Snobs Workout

As I peruse the pages of various holiday issues of my favorite fitness/womens magazines I notice many articles about the benefits of practicing yoga at this stressful... Read More

Run for Your Life

Running is an ideal symmetrical activity for keeping fit. However, it is common for people to blame running for injuries rather than accept that it may be... Read More

Running Tips

It's a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning any physical activity. The information in this article is not meant to be technical, it's just a... Read More

Elliptical Workouts

Elliptical workouts basically involve aerobic or cardiovascular exercise. Elliptical cross trainers can be intimidating at first glance but once you get familiar with them you will find... Read More

Running for Success

Though it may not seem like it when we're drenched in sweat and our legs feel like lead, marathon running is as mental as physical. When we're... Read More

Too Much Water Can Kill

Long distance runners and other endurance athletes have long been educated to believe that drinking lots of fluids during a long distance or endurance event was critical.... Read More

Elliptical Trainer Benefits

There are so many elliptical trainer benefits to list that some would say it's the perfect way to exercise. Elliptical exercise trainers meet the overall need of... Read More

Running on Empty

A sexy pair of legs moseys its way down a soft, vacuumed carpet, around a bend, and through a long, narrow aisle.Suddenly, these shapely stems, which are... Read More

Playing Your Cardio Right

To many, that half-hour a day is the most enjoyable, most therapeutic part of your agenda. To others, it's as dreadful as taking out the trash and... Read More

The Best Cardio Workouts

The benefits of exercise are abundant and well documented, and the best cardio workouts can increase your quality of life. One can hardly read a magazine or... Read More

Why Your Cardiovascular Workouts Might Be A Big Waste Of Your Time

What if I were to tell you that most if not all of the cardiovascular exercise you do was worthless? Well, guess what? over 50% of the... Read More

Do You Need an Expensive Padded, Cushioned, Air Bubbled, Gelled Running Shoe?

Nike Free does not think so; and neither should you. Read on to find out why this concerns every one of us, our health and a good... Read More

What Should Runners Think About?

What do you think about when you are running? Does it make a difference? Research suggests it definitely can.A survey into what runners think about when competing... Read More

Running in The Zone: A Personal Account

Running in The Zone has to be one of the most satisfying experiences. When it all fits together it can seem effortless and intensely rewarding. But why... Read More

Lose Weight And Skyrocket Your Metabolism With Regular Cardiovascular Exercise

Do you try to eat well, even diet, but aren't seeing the results you were hoping for? Are you just trying to gain more energy? Do you... Read More

Integrated Training for Improved Cycling Performance - Part 1

As we all know cycling is a great way to improve your overall cardiovascular fitness. However, what you may not know is that over time the demands... Read More