Cardio is one of those things that many of us do not like doing, but must be incorporated into any type of exercise program whether it is on a machine or using free weights etc. I will take a few minutes on both machines and free weights. Cardiovascular exercise is when you raise your heart rate above normal through some type of physical excursion.
You perform some sort of cardiovascular exercise at a minimum of 3 days a week. It is not mandatory that you do a cardio workout every time, but it should be done most of the days.
First of all, if you have been doing the cardio machines for a while there are ways to spice it up a bit. However, when trying these techniques never under any circumstances do anything that you do not feel comfortable, sacrifice form, or put yourself at risk for injury.
12 Ways to Spice up Your Cardio
1. Try turning around and going backwards on the machines. This can work completely different muscles that the normal forward direction. Hang on to the handles tightly so that you don’t accidentally run off the machine.
2. On the elliptical machine, I like to turn sideways. It also works completely different muscles.
3. Get some upbeat music that you enjoy in your IPOD or MP3. This will take your mind off actually working out.
4. Please don’t forget to cover up the clock.
5. Try different workout settings that are pre-set on the machine.
6. Try a variety of incline and resistance levels.
7. Take as little rest as possible between sets when using free weights.
8. When using free weights, you can superset two or three different exercises for the same body part.
9. Do burnout sets. That means that you don’t actually count repetitions, you just go until your body part that you are working out feels kind OK like jelly.
10. You can also do a variety of field exercises that athletes do to warm up before the game or meet.
11. You can also try a class or some other type of aerobic activity.
12. Get the children involved. They have a lot of extra energy to burn.
I hope this helps take the boredom out of cardio for you. Try these various ideas on how to take the boredom out of cardio. Remember that there is absolutely no rule that says you have to go the gym or get on a machine for cardio.
Source by Adrian Maddox
Note From Brigadoon Fitness
We all know that working out at least 3 days a week is beneficial to your body and mind. But we are human and we get bored of doing the same thing all the time.
Here are some other ways to keep boredom at bay while exercising.
1. Change your schedule. Be flexible and try to work out at a different time of day.
2. Exercise like you’re a kid again. Ride your bike, join a team, rollerblade, dance! Whatever you did as a child take it up again.
3. Try something totally new. Have you tried HIIT? How about yoga or pilates?
4. Gather your friends and take it social.
5. Change the location of where you workout. Take it outside or change your machine for a different view. It can be the same routine with a change of perspective.
If you have hit that mind plateau, and dread doing your workouts, give some of these suggestions a try. It may just rev up your motivation.
