Fit Body:

How creative is your cardio?

To qualify as cardiovascular exercise your movement must be continuous, moving many muscle groups at once, and sustained long enough to elevate your heart rate. What does this mean? Just about anything goes! Get creative by creating your own cardio. Look no farther than your own living room, backyard, local park, community track or walking path. Where can you step up and down? What can you use to hold and squat? On what hill can you jog repeats? What provides a unique balance or agility challenge? Look at your surroundings with an eye for fitness!

How Creative Is Your Cardio?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Cardio Circuit

Do an at-home cardio circuit to burn calories. Do 10-15 reps each. Repeat 2-3 times through:

Jump Squats. Begin by lowering down into a squat. Immediately when standing, jump straight up overhead.

Jumping Jacks. Jump both feet wide, arms together overhead. Jump both feet together, arms back down to your sides.

Jog in Place. Jog in place focusing on powering your arms and lifting your knees up high.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Improve Your Fitness with a Cardio Circuit

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stationary Bike!

Whether your new to fitness or a seasoned veteran, keep the stationary bike on your cardio option list. Here’s why:

Non-impact. The bike is non-impact, which means there’s no impact stress on your joints.

Intensity is controllable. Add resistance or decrease it. Add elevation or decrease it. Your workout is up to you.

You have options. Choose between a recumbant bike or upright bike. If you have difficulty stabilizing your torso without back support, choose a recumbant bike. If you have knee or hip concerns and a large range of motion is difficult, choose a stationary bike.

*Consult a physician before beginning exercise.

Should the Stationary Bike be on your cardio list?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Add in Star Jumps!

Increase your workout intensity by adding in cardio bursts. In between every set or in between groups of exercises, doing 30 to 2 minutes of cardio will burn additional calories. Cardio bursts are also a way to mix up your workout, challenge your muscles, prevent boredom and add a fun component. Another option is to combine star jumps with burpees, jump squats or plyometrics for a challenging high-intensity cardio workout. Here’s how to get started:

Begin standing with your arms at your sides. Jump straight up and extend both arms and legs out the side creating a star shape with your body. Land gently with your arms and legs together. Bend your knees and immediately perform another star jump.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Do Star Jumps!

Mountain Climbers!

If you’re looking for a multi-beneficial exercise to add into your routine, meet Mountain Climbers! With core and cardio benefits, mountain climbers challenge the stabilizing muscles of your abdominals as well as require many muscles to work together at the same time resulting in elevated heart rate. Begin with 10-20 repetitions, adjusting the technique to your desired intensity. Mountain climbers are for intermediate exercisers, without injury.

Here’s how to get started:

Begin in a plank position on the floor. Place your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders. Place your toes on the floor, with your body straight and parallel to the floor. Maintaining proper spinal alignment, hop your right foot up toward your right hand, briefly touch your right foot (toes only) to the floor. Next at the same time, return your right foot to starting position and hop your left foot up toward your left hand, briefly touch your left foot to the floor, then return to your starting position. Repeat alternating until all reps are completed.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

For Core and Cardio- Meet Mountain Climbers!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Try Burpees for high-energy cardio fitness!

Consider adding burpee intervals into your fitness routine for a cardio-burst and total body challenge. Simply mention the word, burpee, and you’re sure to be greeted with a few moans and groans. However, here’s the bottom line: They work for cardio conditioning and strength building for just about every muscle. There are many variations and modifications. Here’s how to begin:

Begin standing. Squat down and place both hands flat on the floor in front of your body. Kick or step out both legs behind you into a pushup position. Perform one pushup. Hop or step both feet in to a squat position. Immediately jump straight up with both arms overhead, and with both feet up off the floor or stand up straight to complete one rep.

*Consult a physician before performing exercise.

Burpees: Love to Hate Them?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

High Knees for Cardio!

If you’re looking to add a cardio component to your workout, consider High Knees. Great for runners, walkers and those looking for fast calorie burning, high knees provide a challenging and energizing interval option.

Begin standing. Lift your right knee straight up, adding a hop to the top of the range of motion if desired. Immediately return your right foot to the floor, and lift your left knee straight up, adding a hop to the top of the range of motion. Begin with a ten second interval and build from there. This exercise is for intermediate or advanced exercisers, without injury or illness concerns.

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

High Knees Cardio

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Hill Repeats!

Hill workouts via repeats are great for cardio! Walk, run, power hike or even sprint up the hill, and you’ll burn mega calories and strengthen your legs. Choosing a hill of moderate incline, and about a quarter mile long is a great starting point. Begin with a warm up of walking on a flat surface for at least 10 minutes. Then do your hill repeat up, followed by a gentle jog or walk down. Turn around and head up again. Repeat 2-4 times. Perform your cool down for at least 10 minutes on a flat surface.

*Always consult your physician before beginning exercise. Hill repeats are for intermediate or advanced exercisers without injury or illness concerns.

Should you add a hill workout to your fitness routine?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Do Jumping Jacks!

Jumping jacks are a great high intensity cardio option if you’re short on time, short on equipment and short on space. Perform your desired number of jumping jacks, followed by jogging or walking in place for recovery. Repeat until your desired workout time is complete.

Vary the motion by adding a squat, moving only one arm at a time, moving forward, crossing your legs during the in-step, lowering your arms only half way, just to name a few. This workout is limited only by your creativity.

*Always consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Do Jumping Jacks!

Can’t afford to workout? Can you afford not to?

The cost of working out depends on the level of luxury one requires in order to actually work out. It seems to be a likely excuse, “I can’t afford a gym membership,” is really no excuse at all.

Granted, in today’s economy we are all cutting back, trimming the fat so to speak, so why not our waist lines as well as our wallets? Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a gym to work your body.  There are a lot of different exercises you can participate in for free or little cost.

Walking for one is an excellent start to any program. It is free; you can do it inside or outside, and requires little equipment besides a comfortable pair of shoes. If you are feeling impatient, you can run or if you are adventurous, take to the trails for a hike.

Swimming is another great way to get a full body workout done without breaking the bank. If you don’t have access to a pool, perhaps a lake or pond will get the job done.

Bike for your workout. Biking, now it doesn’t require a super sleek road bike, but a modest bicycle with a tolerable seat {this varies depending on the individual} and some safety lighting if you are going to be out during the early dawn or dusk times.

Cardiovascular exercise is important, as is strength training. Why not put your own weight to use and do squats, lunges, push-ups and planks. For an added bonus, find objects around the house to assist in adding additional weight or creating a challenge, such as a kitchen chair for dips, or elevated push-ups. 

For a small investment, look into purchasing small items that can add to your workout such as a jump rope, a stability ball, resistance bands, dumbbells or kettle bells. Often in your local retail store you can find coordinating workout videos to assist you if you are new to the workout scene.

If possible, find a friend who will work out with you. Having an accountability partner will not only help you stay on track, but provide motivation, and you can push each other through the times you may want to no-show or quit.

Don’t let the cost of gym membership keep you from exercising. You can workout from home, and you can’t put a price on your health. You can invest in your physical health and well being now, or pay a much higher price later.

This article is written by Hope Epton. ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist. Follow Hope on her blog at http://SportyMom.me. Or via her facebook page http://facebook.com/SportyMomme, twitter, http://twitter.com/SportyMomme or pinterest, http://pinterest.com/SportyMomme

Can’t afford to workout? Can you afford not to? By Hope Epton