You Need Cardio:
Let's face it. If you are looking to get in shape, lose a few pounds of flab around your waist, or just wanting to get healthier so that you're around for your kids in the future: you need to do some cardio vascular exercise.
Even though it scares people to think of running hours upon hours upon end, cardiovascular exercise doesn't have to be scary. In fact, it doesn't have to be running, aerobics, nor does it have to be boring or exhausting.
To lose weight, get in shape, and to be healthy, you need cardio for optimum health. So let's get started in answering some of the more common questions about cardiovascular training.
What Cardio is Best:
First, I have to tell you what I mean when I say "Cardio". Cardio is anything that gets your heart rate above it's normal active rate. That means a brisk walk, a run, dancing, swimming, or anything you can think of that gets your heart pumping, lungs working, and large muscle groups moving is considered a cardiovascular exercise.
When taking this approach, you can see that cardiovascular exercise can be pretty much anything. So it's not a matter of what I think is the best cardio, but what you think is the best cardio. Keeping yourself active is the number one way to lose weight.
If you enjoy dancing, then dance your head off! If you enjoy mowing the lawn, and can make an exercise out of it, then go for it!
Think of your exertion in words. If you are doing an activity that allows you to say more than 15 words in a row, then you're doing practically nothing. You want to do an activity that gets your heart rate up to the point of maybe 8 - 10 words. This makes sure that you're getting a high intensity workout that is both good for your heart, and burning a lot of fat.
Where To Do Cardio:
Personally, I would recommend you do your cardiovascular exercise where you can get distracted. Walking outside can help make the time a lot less boring, and you're not focusing on the strain, but on the things around you. Make sure, however, that you're not getting so distracted that you zone out, and then begin lolly-gagging around instead of exercising your butt off.
When To Do Cardio:
There are theories around that say that cardio is best done before breakfast. This is a great theory! Doing cardiovascular exercise before you eat ensures that you're losing all fat, and not just burning the wheaties you had that morning.
Why Does Cardio Work:
This is why cardio is you "get thin quick" approach to weight loss.
When you work large muscle groups (such as your legs) at once, they need a lot of oxygen and energy to expend all of that force. So your brain triggers your heart to beat faster so that the living tissue in your legs (muscle) can then convert the fat in your body into energy. Your living cells need oxygen from the blood pumped from your heart.
This spikes your metabolism higher while the exercise is going on!
Let's face it. If you are looking to get in shape, lose a few pounds of flab around your waist, or just wanting to get healthier so that you're around for your kids in the future: you need to do some cardio vascular exercise.
Even though it scares people to think of running hours upon hours upon end, cardiovascular exercise doesn't have to be scary. In fact, it doesn't have to be running, aerobics, nor does it have to be boring or exhausting.
To lose weight, get in shape, and to be healthy, you need cardio for optimum health. So let's get started in answering some of the more common questions about cardiovascular training.
What Cardio is Best:
First, I have to tell you what I mean when I say "Cardio". Cardio is anything that gets your heart rate above it's normal active rate. That means a brisk walk, a run, dancing, swimming, or anything you can think of that gets your heart pumping, lungs working, and large muscle groups moving is considered a cardiovascular exercise.
When taking this approach, you can see that cardiovascular exercise can be pretty much anything. So it's not a matter of what I think is the best cardio, but what you think is the best cardio. Keeping yourself active is the number one way to lose weight.
If you enjoy dancing, then dance your head off! If you enjoy mowing the lawn, and can make an exercise out of it, then go for it!
Think of your exertion in words. If you are doing an activity that allows you to say more than 15 words in a row, then you're doing practically nothing. You want to do an activity that gets your heart rate up to the point of maybe 8 - 10 words. This makes sure that you're getting a high intensity workout that is both good for your heart, and burning a lot of fat.
Where To Do Cardio:
Personally, I would recommend you do your cardiovascular exercise where you can get distracted. Walking outside can help make the time a lot less boring, and you're not focusing on the strain, but on the things around you. Make sure, however, that you're not getting so distracted that you zone out, and then begin lolly-gagging around instead of exercising your butt off.
When To Do Cardio:
There are theories around that say that cardio is best done before breakfast. This is a great theory! Doing cardiovascular exercise before you eat ensures that you're losing all fat, and not just burning the wheaties you had that morning.
Why Does Cardio Work:
This is why cardio is you "get thin quick" approach to weight loss.
When you work large muscle groups (such as your legs) at once, they need a lot of oxygen and energy to expend all of that force. So your brain triggers your heart to beat faster so that the living tissue in your legs (muscle) can then convert the fat in your body into energy. Your living cells need oxygen from the blood pumped from your heart.
This spikes your metabolism higher while the exercise is going on!
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