Physical fitness is divided up into two main categories.
One one hand, you have strength training. This includes any weight-bearing exercise that trains your muscles and allows them to adapt to more weight over time. These exercises help prevent arthritis and osteoporosis.
Then you have cardio or endurance-based training. These workouts, though they don’t strengthen and build your muscles, they elevate your heart rate and help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Because of this, cardio is essential for anyone, fitness buff or not. It helps maintain a generally good level of health.
With obesity rates on the rise, it’s crucial for all individuals—no matter their age or level of fitness—to implement at least one of the cardio workouts listed below.
Evening jog outdoors
Depending on the weather, try to go out for a jog every evening before sunset. You can jog around your neighborhood or drive to a nearby park with a trail meant specifically for running. Plug your headphones in and forget about the world. This is especially great for anyone living a sedentary lifestyle. Get into the habit of fitting in a 30-minute jog every other day if you have an office job.
Swimming
Swimming is a great cardio-intensive exercise that is also low impact since it doesn’t take a serious toll on your bones and joints. You may swim laps at your local gym, or find an outdoor pool to exercise in during the warmer months.
Swimming is a total body cardio workout that you’re sure to love. You may not even feel like you’re working out at all!
HIIT sprints with your pet
High-intensity interval training is an ideal form of cardio if you are trying to burn fat while preserving muscle mass. So if you’re also trying to improve your strength levels, give this workout a try. Let your pet tag along too! They will love spending time by your side while simultaneously releasing all of their pent up energy from the day.
For this workout, you want to cycle between 30-second intervals of high intensity (sprinting) and follow this with a recovery stage lasting no more than 60 seconds (light jogging). The entire cardio session should last no more than twenty minutes. This workout is perfect if you’re short on time.
Running indoors
If you don’t love the idea of working out outdoors or at your local gym, that’s completely fine. You can utilize cardio fitness equipment to help reach your fitness goals. Our sports store in Tacoma is fully equipped all the latest and modern equipment.
The treadmill is the king of all cardio equipment. Running is a fantastic way of spiking up your heart rate and working up a sweat. If you want to take the plunge and invest in a quality machine, visit our sports store in Tacoma to explore your options.
Cardio with weights
However, cardio isn’t limited to just running. You can also combine weights for an even more effective workout that will help build stronger muscles in your back, legs, and arms.
Perform a full-body routine in a limited amount of time for multiple sets. Combine exercises like jumping jacks, burpees, shoulder presses, jump squats, and running in place for a heart-pounding cardio and weight session. Make sure to keep the weight low and the repetitions high.
Visiting the sports store in Tacoma will give you an extra push
Cardio training is a necessity if you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle. Whether you choose to take your dog for a walk, or you’d rather swim laps in the pool every day—remember to stay consistent. Make sure you are getting over 150 minutes of aerobic activity every week. If you’re feeling uninspired, try one of the previous workouts to help kickstart your health journey, or visit our sports store in Tacoma to give you the boost you need.