3 Tips for Better Cardio

Based on what I’ve heard, the most common New Year’s resolution is simple: lose weight. Whether it is those three vanity pounds or fifteen pounds or even more, cardio is by far the best means to this end. Dieting is also an option, but effective dieting is complex and deserves a post in and of itself. Unfortunately, cardiovascular exercise is often long and arduous – and as with most exercise, it requires commitment. But by following these tips, getting into a groove with your exercise should be that much easier!

-Keep it bite-sized

Please, please, please don’t try and run for an hour after months of no exercise. It’s the shortcut to giving up or injuring yourself. Challenging yourself is good, but I believe moderation is a much better choice. Instead of jumping right in, take easy baby steps. On your first day, exercise until you are tired, then continue for 5~15 minutes more. This is your base amount. Do the same exercise every day for the same amount of time. As you continue, you’ll find the workout will stop making you as tired as it used to. Your body will build muscle and adapt. At this point, raise your workout by a little. At these early stages, doubling it might be a good increase – but of course it depends on what you can do. Don’t push yourself too hard too fast.

-Commit

This category varies from person to person. For me, commitment means dedication to a schedule. This is tough. Some days are busy. Some days you will be sick. Some days you will want to just rest. Commitment means that instead of taking time out of the day to exercise, you make time in the day. I try to do my exercise first thing when I wake up. This of course means waking up earlier and going to sleep earlier, but of course over time what seems difficult at first becomes nice and easy. Of course your personal goals may differ – 5 days a week may be enough or even too much. You have to gauge yourself and listen to your body.

-Challenge yourself

This might seem a little opposite from the first point, but trust me when I say both fit together well. The key between the two is balance. Challenge yourself too much and you will injure yourself or quit. Conversely, if you don’t challenge yourself you will never see results. You have to consistently keep exercising more and challenging your body, thus forcing it to adapt. As it adapts muscle will gradually replace fat. Keep moving forward, keep progressing, and eventually you will realize your goals. You just have to put one foot in front of the other!

Still only thinking about exercise? The easiest cardio to do is walking. Just go out and stroll around the neighborhood for a little while. Look at the sky, smell the flowers along the way, and if you want even listen to some music while you go (or listen to the world around you). A step up from that is running – but it is much higher impact, and so you MUST be careful to listen to your body, or you will get injured. The best cardio choice is swimming, but of course a pool is required. It is low impact, and burns more calories than almost any other medicine. Plus, it works muscles throughout the body – giving a lean, toned look. It’s the perfect cardio!

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