Cardio Combo

Instead of doing one cardio activity for 20 minutes straight, try exercising for 5 minutes on 3 or 4 different cardio machines. This way you'll get a varied, full-body cardio workout without getting bored of the exercise you're doing.

For example, you may want to start with a low-impact activity such as stationary cycling for five minutes, move to a rowing machine for five minutes, go on to an elliptical machine for another five minutes, and end with a final five minutes on the treadmill. Before you know it, you've knocked off 20 minutes of cardio! If you're keen to get in more cardio, you may wish to do two or three of these circuits.

Too Hard, Too Soon

Don't exert yourself too much at the beginning of your cardio workout. Many exercise enthusiasts often push themselves too hard at the beginning of their workout, wearing themselves out early and making the rest of the cardio seem like a chore. Exercise is more difficult if your body isn't primed with a proper warm-up. Instead, try easing into your workout more slowly, increasing your effort as you become comfortable with the pace.

Warming up improves blood circulation to working muscles and allows chemical processes inside the working muscles to be more efficient

One way to ease into your cardio workout is to add small breaks to your warm-up. Many top endurance athletes use this tactic so energy supplies to working muscles can catch up with energy expenditure. If you start out on a treadmill, for example, try running slowly for three or four minutes and then walking for one minute. Then run a little bit faster for three or four minutes and then stop again for a one-minute walk, and so on.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Mixing up your choice of cardio activities is one of the best ways to make cardio more fun. Try different types of cardio exercises to see which ones you enjoy. For example, if your gym brings in a new cross-country ski machine, give it a try. You may discover a new favorite cardio activity. Don't be afraid to also sign up for one of the various exercise classes that may be available at your gym. It's not uncommon now for fitness clubs to offer cardio classes for both men and women of all ages and abilities. For instance, spinning classes have become quite popular at many fitness facilities.

Cardio doesn't have to be restricted to indoors, either. Take advantage of the good weather and get out to do some running, in-line skating, or cycling. Getting out of the gym for some outdoor cardio can be a refreshing change.

Types of Cardio Activities

-Aerobics
-Cross-Country Skiing
-Cycling
-Basketball
-Elliptical Machine
-Hiking
-Inline Skating
-Rowing Machine
-Running
-Snow Shoeing
-Stair-Climbing Machine
-Stationary Bike
-Step Classes
-Swimming
-Tobogganing
-Treadmil
-Walking

Creative Cardio

Don't let convention limit your cardio exercise choices. Sure, cycling, running, and using the step machine are great cardio workouts. But there are many other cardio exercise alternatives out there. You're limited by only your imagination. For example, it can be fun to use your favorite outdoor cardio activity to try exploring your neighborhood or some other part of town with which you're less familiar.

One fun cardio adventure is to take public transit out to a certain point and then work your way home using your favorite cardio activity. And, if it's wintertime, you might want to try a toboggan workout. There are few cardio activities that are more demanding and fun than sledding down and hiking up a toboggan run!

Cardio with a Friend

Working out with a friend or group of friends can really take the tediousness away from a cardio workout. The camaraderie and friendly distraction can really help get your mind off the cardio exercise. In the gym, it's often easy to work out side by side on stationary exercise machines. Or you may want to play a kind of follow-the-leader with a cardio circuit. A soccer match or group runs in a park are also great ways to get in some cardio with a group of friends. There's an added bonus to working out with friends: They're great for motivating you to push harder and they're great for getting you to your workouts on time!

Top up Your Gas Tank

Trying to do cardio with no energy is not much fun. Endurance athletes sometimes call this "hitting the wall" or "bonking." It is a state that occurs when blood sugar levels drop below normal. So to make sure your cardio workouts are enjoyable, try eating a sensible meal two to three hours before your cardio exercise. It may also be helpful to consume some calories during your workout by using a quality protein supplement such as a shake or a bar!

Listen to the Music

Use a portable CD player or MP3 player to listen to your favorite high-energy music and make your cardio workouts more fun. For many, this is a great way to distract oneself from the steady-state of exercise. Listening to music during exercise may also help improve general mood and reduce perceived exertion. And if you have a choice between listening to music and watching TV while working out, take advantage. Both can help you make the time fly by!

Cardio exercise can be an enjoyable activity. Incorporating some of these exercise ideas can give you the extra boost you need to make your cardio workouts a more fun and productive part of your exercise program!

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