Cardio workouts
Posted by Anonymous on Aug 19, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
So, I've been allowed to do some exercise now, and I've been doing the elliptical machine at my gym. But, what is a good amount of time so that I get some sort of results?
And what are some other good ways to get cardio? I've tried running, but I just can't get into it...I wish I could, but I can't.
Skipping is awesome.
Jump rope is great cardio! Maybe you'd enjoy kick boxing or working a speed bag.
Swimming is a good cardio workout & gentle on the joints.
pogo-sticking. Heh. That would be fun.
When I do cardio I get really bored really quickly so I do short intervals of 3 differnt things--I warm up on the treadmill for aprox 10 minutes, then I move on to the stair climber--which I find totally evil but it gets me winded like nothing else--I do that for up to 10 minutes but sometimes I do less--I follow that with the eliptical machine for 10-20 minutes.
Good luck!
the elliptical is my machine of choice at the gym. its the ONLY reason i have a gym membership. i love it. depending on the day, i go for 20 or 30 minutes, and bring magazines cuz the machines at my gym have little clips for magazines, and then they have plastic things u can hang on the machine if you have a book. makes the time go by SO fast, but doesnt take my mind off it so much that i don't get a great workout.
what i also do is bring my mp3 player with me. it has a video player on it (sansa e250, cheap $100 for 2GB) so sometimes i'll watch a couple 10-minute cartoons or something. and my gym has tvs that are hooked up to radio frequencies and my mp3 player has an fm radio so i can watch tv sometimes.
but i don't know how your gym is, but thats just some suggestions on getting through a workout and not being bored, cuz i know capture says she gets bored real quickly.
and i know how u feel about the running. i can't get into it either. and i dislike the treadmill, for some reason my acid reflux flares up when i get on the treadmill. so the elliptical is the perfect machine in my book
hey there...isn't cardio fun? eh///maybe
I get compulsive with exercise. I hate exercising but feel obligated to do it...so I mix my cardio up a bit and try to keep it fun.
I bought a skip-it and use that for like 20 mins from time to time- a trampoline would work too
I swim a few times a month for up to an hour
I walk briskly for a minimum of 30 mins a day
I ride my bike few times a month
I try a few intersting cardio classes of videos a month (kick boxing, hula, salsa, etc)
I take a hike once or twice a month
I also rock climb.... "on belay?"....err,when I can find a partner.....
Skipping is awesome.
Skipping...hehe....haven't done that is soooooooooo long. Since primary school days.
Skipping is awesome.
Skipping...hehe....haven't done that is soooooooooo long. Since primary school days.
Yeah, I used to skip a lot but you've got to wear good sneakers and socks. It can be brutal. But it burns sooo much calories. Abt 600 per half hr!
"Primary school"? Where are you from?
The stationary bike is my absolute favorite cardio workout at the gym. Treadmills are boring. If I run I want to feel like I'm going somewhere and accomplishing something, not staring at the wall in front of me. Also, I have a long stride so I feel confined by the whole physical setup of treadmills. I have never used an eliptical, but I watch people use them and they just don't look very intense workout. I don't know. The stationary bike, however, is my go to cardio workout at the gym. I feel like I'm getting a really good workout. Reading is easy. I can bring all my readings for a class with me to the gym and accomplish two things at once. So, the time passes by very quickly. It is easy on the knees also, which is a huge plus for me. 20-30 minutes daily of a somewhat challenging program will give you a good workout.
i second the swimming. It is such a good workout for your whole body and makes you feel so good and refreshed after.
Skipping is awesome.
Skipping...hehe....haven't done that is soooooooooo long. Since primary school days.
Yeah, I used to skip a lot but you've got to wear good sneakers and socks. It can be brutal. But it burns sooo much calories. Abt 600 per half hr!
"Primary school"? Where are you from?
De best "corn-tree" - Trinidad and Tobago. Lol.
I have never used an eliptical, but I watch people use them and they just don't look very intense workout. I don't know.
It depends on the amount of resistace you choose. I began using the elliptical with it cranked all the way to difficult because I'm stubborn and didn't want to slowly(yawn) ween myself to it, heh. And let me tell you, I hated it and did all of three minutes of it then I was TOTALLY burnt out. After those battles though, I'm fine with it. I sweat a lot more on the elliptical than I do on the treadmill and I've really felt my legs and arms tone up. It's awesome.
De best "corn-tree" - Trinidad and Tobago. Lol.
lol, no way! So am I!! Hi!
De best "corn-tree" - Trinidad and Tobago. Lol.
lol, no way! So am I!! Hi!
Lol. Hey! I actually heard there was another trini here. How tings?
I download the podcast This American Life- it's so amazing and interesting and wonderful. It is about an hour long and I listen to that while I'm working out (or some other spoken thing) because I love listening to it, so it makes my workouts more enjoyable.
I was recently traveling and therefore didn't have gym access. I found this fabulous hilly winding road with lots of nature all around and I walked on that a lot. At one point, I started skipping when no cars were going by, it was great! :D
Try aerobic striptease! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00064VQWQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_top/002-4578990-5445651?ie=UTF8&n=130&s=dvd#customerReviews
If you order Carmen Electra's DVDs, make sure to get disc 2 - Fit to Strip. It has the heart pumping, fat burning intensity that the other DVDs are missing. I use it 4 times a week and it has virtually eliminated all traces of fat deposits on the back of my legs.
Funny I was looking at one of these DVDs a while ago & wasn't sure if it would be any good, I think I ended up getting a yoga one instead. But thank you for the recommendation, I'll probably pick this up for the winter, I'm a little busy training right now.
If you like exercise videos this site has a ton of reviews by home exercise enthusiasts. I never buy a vid without reading these first:
http://www.videofitness.com/
They also have a forum. I haven't visited it for years, but it was very supportive when I was there last.
Thanks for the suggestions and ideas. I think I'll try the stationary bike, but I always feel really slow on it. I never know how much resistance to put on the bike or the elliptical. I bring my iPod and listen to Vegan Freak Radio when I'm on there, so that helps....or I'll read a book or magazine.
Do tae bo! You don't need to leave the house and it's an excellent cardio workout. Or do yoga. It's one of the few exercises I can really get into without getting bored stiff.
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