Cardio is great for everyone. Trying to lose some weight? Cardio helps to burn those calories and kick that metabolism. How about bulking up and putting on muscle? The right cardio helps there too.
There are so many options for cardio, it’s hard to know which one is best. Should you hit the treadmill or the lap pool? Or is it better to hit up a kickboxing class? It’s no secret that some types of cardio burn more calories in a single session than others. Going for a brisk run is going to burn more than walking or even hiking. But does burning more calories make exercise better?
Which Cardio Will You Keep Doing?
The truth is, the best cardio routine you can do is the one that you’ll keep doing. If you’d rather watch paint than swim laps, then the aerobic benefits of swimming aren’t going to last long… because you’ll end up quitting. It’s easy to find reasons to skip out on something you hate.
Now doing things you enjoy and that get you motivated… those are the types of things that’ll keep you coming back for more. To find the best cardio routine for yourself, look for things that you enjoy doing or how you can make cardio more enjoyable.
Do Cardio You Love Doing
Cardio doesn’t have to be a chore. Sports are one of the best ways to get in free cardio. Shooting some hoops or playing a game of tennis is great cardio that’ll keep you distracted from the work you’re putting in. If you have kids, getting out there on the field or court with them and playing for a half-hour will not only make your kiddo’s day, it’ll also burn some calories on your end. Win-win.
Look to Enhance Your Cardio
So you’re not a sports fan? Or the sport you enjoy isn’t exactly easy or even possible to just insert into your day. That’s okay, there’s hope for you too. Look for other ways to enhance your cardio, so it’s not a boring and dreadful grind each time.
One of the most common approaches is to add media to a stationary workout machine. Whether you’re on a treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, or something else you could do with your eyes closed, you can almost always liven your workout to the beat of music you love or escape to another world by watching show or listening to an audiobook.
The key is to make it something you look forward to. If you deprive yourself of the next part in the show or the next chapter of your audiobook until you’re back in the gym, you’ll keep coming back.
Variety is the Spice of Cardio?
Variety is the spice of life and of cardio too. Sports are exciting because you never know what’s going to happen; there is always variety in what happens each time. Movies, shows, and music all add variety to your life. The same is true of any Cardio you’re doing. Rather than trying to get all your cardio doing the same thing, try to mix it up. Not only will the variety help keep things interesting, but it’ll also help you to remain balanced.
If treadmills or elliptical machines are the only cardio you’re doing, you might be doing cardio wrong. Personal trainers have a whole variety of routines they can take you through to stay engaged in your workout and coming back for more. They can also help you to plan around any weight training (or include your weight training) so that your cardio doesn’t interfere with your recovery and performance.
At Extreme Studio Performance, in addition to a nice variety of stationary machines, trainers will also help you utilize other more open areas of the gym to move around for a dynamic cardio experience so you’re never bored.
There are a plethora of intense calorie-burning cardio routines that look amazing on paper. But zero minutes of the best routine is still zero calories burned. And hours of shooting hoops or hitting the heavy bag or tossing the football add up to a lot of calories burned quickly. Therefore, the best cardio routine for you is simple, it’s doing cardio you enjoy and will keep doing.