I’ve always heard that cardio workouts are good for you because they strengthen your heart and lungs. I want to get my dad started because I see him looking so weak and tired all the time. I have to be honest, he is out of shape. My dad is 60-years-old and he doesn’t exercise much because he never has the time and when he does he’s too tired. What would be a safe routine for my dad to start? I don’t want to overdo anything.
What’s a safe way for my dad to begin cardio workouts?
What are some good cardio workouts that burn fat faster?
I am 27 I weigh 286 an i’m 6″2. I played football my entire life but being out of school for ten years now I’m not in as good of shape as I was. I am currently trying to lose 50 to 60 pounds. Now I know I won’t lose it over night but i’m on a high protein diet but need some pointers on some good cardio workouts to help burn the fat faster. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you
what can i do to breath beter during class and cardio workouts?
i quit smoking about a year ago, feel great, but during cardio workouts and at the end of kickboxing i find it still hard to catch my breath,, what can i do to help this a little?
Jump Rope Cardio Workouts #4 – HIIT Exercises For Fat Loss
This jump rope workout will help you lose fat while burning a lot of calories. Jumping rope is a fun exercise which helps to build your overall agility and endurance levels!
What are some good cardio workouts?
I can’t go running/walking/ or jogging outside b/c the neighborhood that I live in isn’t the best. I would like to jump rope, but I live in an upstairs apartment. Don’t have time to drive all the way to the gym. anybody have any suggestions on what to do for some cardio workouts?
Jump Rope Cardio Workouts #3 – Fat Loss Exercises & Training
This jump rope workout will help you lose fat while burning a lot of calories. Jumping rope is a fun exercise which helps to build your overall agility and endurance levels!
Top 10 Reasons to Use Interval Training Cardio Workouts
Interval training (HIT) involves a combination of high and low-intensity training within a single workout session. In this session, the individual alternates between a bout of higher intensity exercise followed by a lower intensity or “active recovery” bout. This type of training is in contrast to the more familiar “steady state” exercise where the intensity is much lower but longer in duration. Interval training is awesome for fat burning and aerobic conditioning but let’s have a look at some more reasons to use interval training for your cardio workouts.
What are the benefits of interval training?
1. Intervals vastly reduce boredom. Traditional steady state cardio training can become quite boring. HIT offers more variety and excitement to your workouts.
2. Interval training increases post-exercise energy expenditure (calories burned following exercise) more than steady-state exercise, which means that more fat is burned. After intense exercise, the body needs extra calories as it works to repair muscles, replace energy stores (i.e. carbohydrate) and restore the body to its normal state (e.g. reduce heart rate). As this can take many hours, you will keep on burning more calories long after the workout is over. In fact, research shows that metabolic rate is higher for several hours following interval training compared to steady state exercise.
3. Interval training stimulates the respiratory system, cardiovascular system and nervous system to a greater degree. Therefore, more fat and carbohydrates are burned to support the expanding energy demands of the body during, and after, intense exercise.
4. Interval training increases the activity of enzymes involved in fat burning. Research has shown that after a bout of interval training there is more fat in the blood (i.e. free fatty acids), which is an indication of more fat, being used for energy production.
5. HIT burns more calories. As an example, 30 minutes on an Elliptical machine using a steady state program will burn roughly 292 calories, whereas 30 minutes of intervals will burn approximately 584 calories!
6. HIT causes a greater increase in VO2max (aerobic capacity). By stimulating your cardiovascular system to work closer to its maximum capacity for a longer duration than steady state exercise.
7. HIT allows for better time efficiency. For instance, a typical 30 min steady state run on the treadmill could be reduced to 10 – 15 min of HIT due to its demands on the aforementioned systems.
8. HIT results in increased amounts of circulating growth hormone (GH) following exercise. This promotes an increase in lean body mass and increased fat burning. This does not occur to the same extent with steady state exercise. This is particularly beneficial for those looking to maintain their muscle mass and at the same time reduce body fat.
9. Interval training makes use of both aerobic (type 1) and anaerobic (type 2) muscle fibres. This is in contrast to steady state exercise that only makes use of type 1 fibres. By increasing the conditioning of these type 2 muscle fibres you will greatly increase your capacity to tolerate high-intensity exercise, which means an increased opportunity to exercise at higher levels that burns a lot of calories.
10. Because of the high-intensity of this exercise and the increased use of anaerobic type 2 muscle fibres there is an increased use of the body’s glycogen (muscle-stored carbohydrates) stores. This is very beneficial for fat loss as the body will conserve carbohydrate following exercise and thus use fat as an energy source for the body’s energy requirements. The more glycogen you use during exercise the more fat you will burn following exercise!
Guidelines for Interval Training
1. Intensity of high-intensity interval
2. Intensity of low-intensity interval
3. Duration of high-intensity interval
4. Duration of low-intensity interval
5. Number of Intervals
Because of its versatility, HIT offers 1000s of different program variations. This is great for those looking for variety and change. After all, the body adapts best to changing stimuli. Furthermore, this type of training can be done on any cardio machine. Again, switching between machines periodically will stress your body differently and lead to the best results!
It is recommended that the intensity for the high-intensity interval range between 75 – 100% of your maximum effort. This will depend on the duration of the interval, as the longer the interval, the lower its intensity.
The recovery interval should range in the 55 – 65% of maximum effort.
The ratio of work to recovery can be varied and will depend on your fitness level and desired goal. For instance, I recommend starting at a work : rest ratio of 1:4 for beginners. As an example, this could represent a high-intensity (work) interval of 15 seconds followed by a 60 second recovery interval. If you are more advanced you can play around with this ratio for increased difficulty.
What you will notice is that over the duration of the interval training session your average heart rate will tend to drift upward. This is due to the fact that, depending on the interval protocol and your fitness level, the length of your recovery bouts will not be sufficient to allow your heart rate to fully return to rest; thus, you end up working at a greater percentage of your maximum heart rate even while you recover.
Here is a sample 10-min interval training workout that is sure to leave you exhausted:
1. 10 seconds at 100% effort
2. 20 seconds at 60% effort
3. Repeated 20 times
Fitness Expert, Yuri Elkaim helps millions of busy health conscious individuals lose fat while bettering their running performance with just 2 interval training runs per week. Watch his new You Tube Video for a complete guided interval training workout! And as a special bonus, you’ll receive a FREE special offer to receive one of Yuri’s FREE Treadmill Trainer
Plan a Cardio Workout That Will Really Melt the Pounds
Are you looking for a cardio workout that you can enjoy? Finding a workout that will keep you entertained is just a matter of knowing yourself. What do you like to do? Dance, swim or kick boxing? If you want a challenging workout that will get your heart pumping here are a few activities to get you started in the right direction:
Swimming: Swimming is just about the best all-around exercise that you can do. Swim about 45 minutes, three times a week and you will see your body becoming toned and fit – and after only a few weeks. Swimming at a fast pace will work your muscles twice as much as running. As with any new exercise, start slow and for shorter periods of time. Then, work your way up to swimming faster and for longer periods.
You might also try water aerobics. Do the same exercises that you do in the gym: leg lifts, squats, lunges. When these exercises are done under water, the water provides a resistance so that your muscles are required to work harder than if you were doing them out of the water. Exercising in water is also better for your joints, especially if you are older. People with arthritis or other joint disorders seem to tolerate water exercises better than gym exercises.
Belly Dancing: Belly dancing is especially good for the waistline, hips and thighs. Once you get going, the cardio benefits are enormous. Belly dancing has become so popular in the United States that most gyms have at least one class.
Yoga: Ashtanga yoga is a form of yoga that takes the most effort. It uses the regular yoga poses but it is also good for aerobic workouts. You should use a certified yoga instructor since he or she is trained to show you the correct poses that will boost your heart rate and burn calories. You can also buy videos online that will show you the poses and how to do them.
Walking. Not just walking, but “power” walking. Power walking requires more effort than plain walking. You swing your arms while walking very quickly. You can power walk outside around your neighborhood or go to the gym and walk on a treadmill. If you are just starting and you are out of shape, start with a plain walking routine until your body adjusts to the exercise. Then, start swinging your arms while walking slowly. When that feels comfortable, go on to a fast walk and match your arm swings to your walking stride.
If you power walk at the gym, have a trained instructor give you the best workout for your strength and stamina. When you are power walking at a fast pace easily on a flat treadmill, start increasing the incline level. That will really give you a workout!
Doing an exercise activity that you enjoy will encourage you to keep with it. And that is what you need to get yourself fit and to lose weight.
Jude Wright is dedicated to helping people becoming healthy and fit. Get her free report, Losing Weight Without Starving Yourself, at 9WeeksToWeightLoss.com.
New Body Needed: Benefits Of Cardio Workouts For Weight Loss And Heart Health
Are you concentrating on the physical aspects when contemplating the best cardio workout for weight loss? Don’t stop there! Once you discover the psychological benefits, you will become hooked on fitness. Countless studies have proven the mood-enhancing effects of a 20 or 30 minute workout. From teens to seniors will experience this uplifting, invigorating result. Geared to create your new body? Ready to get ripped to burn belly fat? Let’s see why a cardio workout for weight loss delivers the goods every time.
Ten vital benefits of a stretching, strength training, weight loss cardio workout:
1. Outwits osteoporosis
2. Trounces type 2 diabetes
3. Helps heart health
4. Whittles down weight
5. Diminishes mild depression
6. Spruces up sleep quality
7. Promotes mind-power
8. Improves self-image
9. Fine-tunes flexibility
10. Elevates energy levels
Now, how do you go about making this impressive list of benefits your own? Mention the word ‘exercise’ and many folks visualize expensive gym memberships, bulge-revealing gym mirrors and staring eyes. Relax! You really don’t have to go this route if it isn’t for you. There are dozens of ways to reach your fitness goals. Aim to include the following three components in your exercise routine:
Aerobic Training: This refers to those activities that get your heart really pumping and your breathing thoroughly revved up. Now, you don’t need to invest in heavy-duty elliptical exercise equipment to achieve this. You can simply come up with a range of informal, enjoyable family activities. Anything from mountain biking, to walking or dancing will do.
Flexibility Training: The second leg of your cardio workout for weight loss, should include some stretching exercises to increase your flexibility. This is another way of preventing injuries, as it enables your joints, ligaments and muscles to stretch and bend with ease. It also helps to prevent the stiffness that is often associated with aging. Here some basic yoga exercises or an exercise band will do the trick.
Strength Training: Strength training is vital to increase your lean muscle mass. Again, you don’t need expensive home gym equipment. Many reputable, budget, fat-burning programs take you by the hand in your weight loss quest. In these, experts give you step-by-step instructions for using little more than a bench and a set of dumbbells to get you to your weight training quota. Remember to work on your core-strength (mid-section) as well. This is one of the best ways to strengthen your back, in order to prevent back injuries.
The great thing about weight training is that it really turns your body into a calorie-crunching furnace. Your goal is to up your lean muscle mass, while reducing your body fat. This equips you with a super-efficient metabolism that continues to burn calories even while you sleep. Doesn’t that sound great? Compare this scenario to fad diets that are likely to put your metabolism on a go-slow strike, by shifting all your body-gears into starvation mode.
That’s all there is to it. You can try to work up to 30 minutes four or five days a week for maximum benefits. Just make sure that you get some expert advice when you start out. Consult your doctor if you haven’t been training for a while, or if you have any illness or injury.
There is no area of your being that will remain untouched by a regular, relaxed weight loss cardio workout. Just imagine the dividends in terms of the positive effect it will have on your self-image, the way you will carry yourself, the way your clothes will fit, and the mood-lifting endorphins that will be produced. This is your recipe for health and wellbeing.
The most important thing to do, is to put the fun back into fitness. If you enjoy what you are doing, you will keep it up. If you include the rest of the family, you are also more likely to stay with it. It really doesn’t have to be a drag. If you prefer to combine your cardio workout for weight loss with a health club membership, by all means go for it. But if you can’t afford it, don’t let this fact stop you from creating your new, healthy, toned body.
Remember, no expensive home gym equipment is needed! Visit Fat-Gone.com to read a quick comparison of two popular budget burn fat fast plans.
Great Cardio Workouts You Can Do At Home
You know how important cardio workouts are for your health and wellbeing, but it’s hard to get a good cardio workout in when you can’t leave to house to go to the gym or for a run. Here are some great cardio workouts you can do right at home.
Workout DVDs
One of the easiest ways to get your heart pumping with a workout at home is to purchase one (or a few) of the workout DVDs available today. You can find cardio workouts on just about anything from kickboxing to dance. Pick one that looks like fun and start working out. If you just add a new DVD every 3 months, you’ll have a great little library of cardio workout DVDs in no time. Rotate through the different workouts and you’ll never get bored of working out at home again.
Treadmill
A treadmill is a great way to get a good cardio workout at home. You can walk on it briskly or go for a jog or run. Some models will even let you adjust the angle of the walking surface, to simulate going uphill. Keep your workout from getting boring by listening to some music or audio books while you walk.
Stationary Bike
A stationary bike is another great piece of equipment that allows you to get in a great cardio workout just about anywhere in your house. All you have to do is jump on the bike and peddle away. Keep some water close by to stay hydrated. I like to watch TV or a movie while I’m riding my bike. You can also read books or magazines if you are just peddling at a slower yet persistent pace.
Jump Rope
A jump rope is one of the least expensive pieces of workout equipment you’ll ever buy. You can pick one up for a few bucks, or borrow one from your kids. To get a great workout, simply jump rope for 20 to 30 minutes. For a great interval training, jump 100 jumps as fast as you can, then slow down to a more comfortable jump, barely lifting your feet enough to let the rope go through.
Step Workout
You’ve probably seen those fancy step workouts at the gym, or the TV infomercial. Guess what? You can get a great step workout at home without any specialized equipment. Utilize the bottom step of your stairs, or any large, sturdy box you can step on and off. I use an old milk crate at my house. Step up using your right leg first 12 times, then switch to leading with your left leg. Repeat. For some variety try stepping side to side.
For more great advice on working out at home visit http://www.homebasedworkouts.com and don’t forget to sign up for our free workout tips newsletter. You’ll find great recipes and meal ideas for eating healthy at http://www.healthymenumailer.com – Your Healthy Meal Planner. Sign up for a 7-day Sneak Peak.