Why Do Cardio?

There are two main reasons why cardiovascular exercise is important! They are known as systemic effects and peripheral effects.

The systemic effects of cardiovascular exercise are increased stroke volume, increased oxygen utilization, decreased blood pressure, and decreased heart rate. Stroke volume is the quantity of blood ejected with each stroke and is an important part of the equation for cardiac output. Cardiac output is the primary indicator of the functional capacity of the circulation to meet the demands of physical activity. An increase in oxygen use is vital during any exercise. The more capacity a person has for consuming oxygen during exercise, the more physically fit. Endurance level also increases. A decrease in blood pressure and heart rate are self-explanatory.

The peripheral effects of cardiovascular exercise include increased number and size of mitochondria, increased glycogen, increased release of fatty acids, and increased capacity to oxidize fat. Mitochondria supply cellular energy. Glycogen serves as a form of energy and is stored in the muscles and liver. The more energy you have to exert during physical activity, the greater the capacity to oxidize fat and release fatty acids – even hours after you have finished.

10 Tips to Stay Motivated with Your Workout

1. ASK YOURSELF WHY YOU ARE EXERCISING
2. SET GOALS
3. KEEP AN EXERCISE JOURNAL
4. TAKE PROGRESS PHOTOS
5. TARGET HEART RATE
6. CREATE A MOTIVATION COLLAGE/BOARD
7. FIND SOMEONE TO PARTNER UP AND WORKOUT WITH
8. DOWNLOAD GOOD WORKOUT MUSIC
9. PLAN YOUR WORKOUT & NUTRITION PROGRAM AHEAD
10. REWARD YOURSELF, ONCE IN A WHILE, FOR STICKING TO THE PLAN

For Women: Fitness RX. Written by Skye Taylor.  Read more >> 10 Tips to Stay Motivated.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

There is nothing like it! This method of training beats slow moderate cardio any day. The reason this method of training works so well is because you use more energy and burn more fat and calories in the shortest amount of time!

A good example of a HIIT workout:

20 seconds of jumping jacks

10 seconds of rest

20 seconds of mountain climbers

10 seconds of rest

20 seconds of burpees

10 seconds of rest

20 seconds of pushups

10 seconds of rest

And, so forth and so on… Do this type of interval training (also known as Tabata) for 20 minutes, and you’ll burn more fat and calories than you would if you jogged for 20 minutes. It’s intense! There is no set HIIT workout. You can google it and find more examples, but you can also make up your own. For the workout that suits your needs, pick the exercises you like the best for whatever body part you want to work on and incorporate those into your HIIT. That is the best way to start. As you get stronger and your endurance improves, then you should add exercises that are more challenging. Trust me, you’ll see the benefits right away!

Check out this article on >>>Benefits Of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).