Choose the Right Cardio for You
Cardiovascular exercise is anything that increases the work of the heart and lungs. The right type of cardio can burn calories, reduce your risk of health conditions, improve your mood and boost your energy.
When deciding on your cardio mix it's important to pick activities that keep you injury-free. Every cardio activity has it's own unique repetitive movement pattern. If you put your body through a fixed pattern often enough with enough impact you'll likely get imbalances that create vulnerability to injury. Your individual biomechanics will determine which activity is best for you. Most of us find this out the hard way unfortunately - we get injured and then get an education at the physio on which areas of our body are particularly tight or particularly weak.
Enjoyment also matters when choosing your cardio. Just because your body isn't naturally suited to a particular movement pattern doesn't necessarily mean you can't do it. If you're willing to put in the time to strengthen your weak parts and stretch out your tight parts then you'll have a lot more options, particularly if you're able to invest in the right gear. You might not be able to run five times per week but with careful pre-hab and thoughtful surface selection you could potentially create a run/walk/cycle/class mix that works for you.
Many people embark on a cardio campaign because they want to lose body fat. However the wrong type of cardio activity can actually achieve the opposite effect. For some people, intense early morning training can push the body into a stressed state where it holds tight to body fat. In addition to this, in some cases intense activity can drive up your appetite. Many people find themselves diligently burning 500 calories in the morning only to stress-eat 2000 treat calories later in the day.
High intensity cardio just isn't for everyone. Some people will never do a HIIT session in their lives but it doesn't mean they won't have good cardiovascular capacity, a lean physique and great health. Plan your cardio intensity according to your biomechanics, biotype and current stress levels. This keeps you out the red-zone of the over-trained state and firmly on track towards your goals.
Exercise should improve your mobility and vitality. If your current cardio strategy isn't achieving this then it might be time to consider a new approach.
When deciding on your cardio mix it's important to pick activities that keep you injury-free. Every cardio activity has it's own unique repetitive movement pattern. If you put your body through a fixed pattern often enough with enough impact you'll likely get imbalances that create vulnerability to injury. Your individual biomechanics will determine which activity is best for you. Most of us find this out the hard way unfortunately - we get injured and then get an education at the physio on which areas of our body are particularly tight or particularly weak.
Enjoyment also matters when choosing your cardio. Just because your body isn't naturally suited to a particular movement pattern doesn't necessarily mean you can't do it. If you're willing to put in the time to strengthen your weak parts and stretch out your tight parts then you'll have a lot more options, particularly if you're able to invest in the right gear. You might not be able to run five times per week but with careful pre-hab and thoughtful surface selection you could potentially create a run/walk/cycle/class mix that works for you.
Many people embark on a cardio campaign because they want to lose body fat. However the wrong type of cardio activity can actually achieve the opposite effect. For some people, intense early morning training can push the body into a stressed state where it holds tight to body fat. In addition to this, in some cases intense activity can drive up your appetite. Many people find themselves diligently burning 500 calories in the morning only to stress-eat 2000 treat calories later in the day.
High intensity cardio just isn't for everyone. Some people will never do a HIIT session in their lives but it doesn't mean they won't have good cardiovascular capacity, a lean physique and great health. Plan your cardio intensity according to your biomechanics, biotype and current stress levels. This keeps you out the red-zone of the over-trained state and firmly on track towards your goals.
Exercise should improve your mobility and vitality. If your current cardio strategy isn't achieving this then it might be time to consider a new approach.