Do Cardio the Right Way
In order to optimize the results of your cardio activities you should make sure that you are exercising properly. Any physical exercise not done properly will garner poor results and will have negative effects on your body. Consider these tips when doing your aerobics exercise & see the outcome.
Tip #1. Do cardio with self-control. – Some people have the urge to over exercise thinking that it brings faster & better results. That is in fact untrue. Studies have shown that 45-60 minutes of cardio burns fat more effectively than two straight hours of intensive aerobics exercise. After 60 minutes, the body actually starts to burn your muscle mass & not your stored body fat! If you think you need more than an hour of cardio work everyday than space it out & do half the work in the morning & another in the evening. That way you are maximizing your metabolism & fat loss.
Tip #2. Choose a cardio activity that is fun for you. – There are plenty of aerobic exercises for you to choose from & you should be able to select one that is fun & interesting for you. Physical activity, like cardio, should be fun & not work for you. The psychological effect is as important as the physical exertion because you will only end up doing the work half-heartedly & therefore getting very little results. Aside from working on machines like the treadmill & the Stairmaster, you can also choose to incorporate aerobic dance or even sports to your routine. For example, if you happen to enjoy swimming then focus on this interest & make it a part of your cardio workout.
Tip #3. Have a clear-cut workout & dietary plan. – Before beginning your cardio routine, you should have a goal in mind. What do you want out of doing cardio? What results do you envision to get from it? Is it weight lose or body shaping? Also, you must bear in mind that to achieve your goal, it is best to include a well-planned diet with your workout. There are a lot of books & websites that can help you figure out the answers to these questions & plot a proper daily dietary schedule.
Tip #4. Know your intensity level. – It is important for you to know that cardio exercises does not only mean fast, fast, fast! Though there are high intensity aerobic exercises such as running & taebo, there are also less intensified aerobic work like swimming & walking. They key to cardio success & more fat loss is the combination of the two with shorter rest periods during the cardio set. The idea is to go from one set to another in quick succession with only 40-60 seconds of rests in between, this way your metabolism is maintained at a certain level.
Tip #5. Cardio first, workout after. – it is not the other way around. Cardio should be done before lifting any weights or working out in the gym. After a good workout, your body is in need of nourishment & this means food. If you still proceed to do more work despite the fact that your body is waiting to be fed, your body will turn on itself & you will start losing muscle mass. This defeats your entire workout objective to be fit & healthy. Remember, being thin doesn’t mean being healthy. For all you know, you may be dropping weight but all you’ve lost is muscle mass & not stored body fat.
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