Some Good Cardio Examples

Cardio is one of the most important things you can do for your body, whether you want to lose weight, build muscle or improve your health.  The great thing is, there are plenty of choices for cardio exercise.  Anything that gets your heart rate into your target heart rate zone will work.  

Running is a great choice for a variety of reasons:
• It doesn't require special equipment (except some quality shoes)
• You can can do it just about anytime, anywhere
• It's high impact, which helps build strong bones and connective tissue
• It gets your heart rate up more quickly than low or no impact exercise
• It helps you burn serious calories, especially if you add hills, sprints or tryinterval training.

Bicycling
Whether you're outdoors or indoors, cycling is an excellent cardio workout. By using the power of your legs, you increase endurance while burning lots of calories, anywhere from 250-500 in 30 minutes, depending on how fast you go and how high your resistance is.  What makes cycling even better than other activities is that you can incorporate it into your daily life.  You can ride to and from work or use your bike to run errands around town.  It's also low impact, which is great for your joints and perfect cross-training for high impact activities like running or aerobics.

Elliptical Trainer
Next to the treadmill, the elliptical trainer is the most popular cardio machine at the gym and it's no wonder.  The elliptical trainer allows your body to move in a natural way, but without the impact of the treadmill.  You can add intensity by increasing resistance and some machines include adjustable ramps and arm handles for added intensity as well.  As a bonus, you can go backwards on an elliptical trainer, adding variety while working your muscles in a different way.  The elliptical trainer is also a good choice for runners looking for a break from pounding the pavement. A 145-lb person burns about 300 calories in 30 minutes.

Swimming is another great choice because, like cross-country skiing, it's a full body exercise. The more body parts you involve in your workout, the more calories you'll burn. Spend 30 minutes doing the breast stroke and you'll burn almost 400 calories. Best of all, your joints are fully supported so you don't have to worry about high-impact injuries. It's also great cross-training for other cardio activities.

Step aerobics is another great choice, particularly for people who like choreographed workouts, but don't enjoy the jackhammer feel of high impact aerobics.  The step offers intensity without the pounding and it's easy to up the energy by adding risers.   It's also a great calorie-burner, targeting your legs, butt and hips while burning 300-400 calories in 30 minutes (during high intensity sessions). Though it might look complicated, step is easy to learn if you start with a beginner class or video.

Rowing
This is an often overlooked machine in the gym because we're confused about how it works and, perhaps, aren't sure it delivers a great workout.  However, rowing is a physically demanding exercise involving both the upper and lower body, which means a higher heart rate and a greater calorie burn.  Like an elliptical trainer or stationary bike, there are different levels of resistance, allowing you to get a challenging workout no matter what your fitness level.   In 30 minutes, a 145-lb person can burn about 300 calories, but if you've never tried rowing, it can be tough.  Start with 10-15 minutes and add time to subsequent workouts to give your body time to adapt.

Kickboxing is another great choice for exercisers who want to work hard with more choreographed workouts.  Combining kicks and punches not only enhances your coordination, it involes both the upper and lower body, making this an excellent overall workout.  There are a variety of videos available or you can opt for a class at your local gym to get a more social interaction.  Once you're familiar with different kicks and punches, you can even create your own workouts or, better yet, use a punching bag (compare prices) to get an even better workout.

Walking is another great choice for cardio because, like running, it's accessible:  You don't need special equipment and you can do it anywhere, anytime.  It's harder to get your heart rate up with walking since it's low impact but, if you work hard at it, a 145-lb person can burn about 180 calories in 30 minutes.  Adding hills, speed walking or using walking poles can also increase the intensity.  Make sure you walk briskly--pretend you're trying to catch a bus--and keep you head up, back straight and swing your arms.

Jumping rope is another calorie-scorcher and, as an added bonus, a jump rope packs easily in your suitcase, making it an excellent travel exercise.  A 145-lb person can burn a whopping 330 calories with a 30-minute workout, but you'll want to slowly work your way up to that.  Start by jumping for 1-2 minutes at a time, taking breaks by marching in place and swinging your rope in a figure eight motion.  Continue alternating for 10-20 minutes and, over time, gradually increase the amount of time you jump while decreasing your rests.  You can add variety by trying different foot patterns (jumping on one foot, scissor jumps, etc.).