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?

Fit Body:

Small-Space or Stationary Cardio!

Not all cardio has to cover miles, use expensive equipment and take up lots of time, to contribute towards a healthier cardiovascular system. Stack stationary moves to power up your heart and lungs, burn calories and even reduce stress and muscle tension. For example:

Jumping Jacks.

Jump Rope.

Jog in place.

Plyometrics or hopping in various patterns.

Body Weight moves performed at a faster pace and in succession without a rest period.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Small-Space Cardio

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!

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?

Have a plan. The first thing to do to get motivated is to have a plan. Most people lose motivation because they think of a couple exercise routines or programs that they need to do but then they start to lose track of the next steps to take due to lack of planning.

Write it down. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and brainstorm. Write down all your fitness goals, aspirations and any little thing that triggers something within you.  Once you have finished this brainstorming, keep it in a safe place and refer back to it when you have run out things to do to keep moving forward.

Break down your goals. Create small, attainable goals that will help set you up for success. Instead of saying you want to lose 30lbs, start with 5lbs. That way when you have reached your 5lb weight loss you are able to celebrate your success. The more goals you achieve the more successes you will have.

Have a motivation back-up. We all have days where we have no motivation to do anything. When this happens, I have a go-to music playlist. I have all my positive songs that put me in a fantastic mood where I can do anything. It could also be a book, or one of your favorite quotes. Whatever it is, know that this is your go-to source for motivation.

Zachary Fiorido is your go to Fitness Guy. I am Personal Trainer and Film/TV Actor. I want to help you achieve your goals! Please don’t hesitate to message me through Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ZacharyJFiorido

Get Motivated! By Zachary Fiorido