First of all, cardio goes way beyond the act of running. As a strength and fitness professional it has been my experience that most people associate cardio with always having to be aerobic. This is where people are missing out on what REAL cardio is all about! You see cardio is also anaerobic which means without oxygen. This type of cardio is consistent with short burst of intense exertion which elevate your heart rate in a hurry and cause an oxygen deficit that isn’t usually made up until the bout of exercise is finished. Check out the following method of cardio for your heart pumping convenience below.
How To Do Cardio Without Running!
So if you are going to engage in cardiovascular activity without ever running or jogging then one way around this is to cater your strength training routine to become part of your cardiovascular workout. So what does this mean? Well, you can group several strength training exercises together in the form of supersets or circuits to significantly raise your level of perceived exertion in order to achieve a very good cardiovascular workout. By doing this you limit your rest time by constantly moving from one exercise to the next without rest. This will give you a tremendous strength training workout while also giving you a hard hitting cardio workout at the same time. This isn’t easy, but REAL cardio isn’t!
Another way to get the most out of your cardio routine without ever having to pound the pavement for mile after mile is by executing intervals into your strength training workouts. So what does this mean? Well intervals of different running substituted cardio exercises such as jumping jacks, jump rope, and cycling can all be done in intermittent bouts between your strength training exercises to keep your heart rate elevated throughout your workout. This sure beats the monotony of having to go out and run for miles and miles with nothing to show for it other than aching joints and the potential loss of muscle mass. There is nothing wrong with running, but like anything else it should be done in moderation and the intensity and volume should always be varied.
If you haven’t already started to implement these mentioned strategies into your own cardio exercises then you are missing out. Cardio workouts don’t have to be boring. Take the time to learn more by accessing more of my articles on the subject for free. Remember that most anyone can train hard, but only the best train smart my friend!
