There are so many amazing ways to work on your fitness. From weightlifting to other exercises in the gym, fitness is great for weight loss and staying healthy in general. Cardio workouts are particularly effective for maintaining fitness. These workouts exercise your heart muscles and improve your endurance. With a strong foundation of cardio, you'll find that climbing up stairs and hills is a piece of cake. However, it's easy to get stuck in a cycle of the same cardio workouts. Not only does this become boring, but you won't be able to challenge yourself and achieve new heights. It's important to introduce new exercises. Although you might be hesitant to try these at first, know that it is beneficial in the long run and will transform you into an amazing athlete. Let's take a close look at how to get some variety in your cardio workouts on a daily basis.
1 - Running
Running is a fundamental exercise that is excellent for your cardio. The best part is, you can do it anywhere without any prior preparation or equipment. All you need is a quality pair of running shoes and perhaps a stopwatch. You can even mix up your jogging technique between short sprints and long, slow runs. Some people are very fond of heart rate monitors that tell them exactly how hard their cardiovascular system is working. Between running on trails, sidewalks and the park, there's so much variety you can find within such a simple exercise. Many runners like to plan out their route on an online map before heading out. This is a great way to track your progress; simply calculate how far you ran the previous day and try to beat it when you step outdoors. If running is too challenging at first, don't hesitate to adopt a run-walk approach where you integrate walking breaks.
2 - Biking
Biking is another terrific cardio workout. As for equipment, you'll want a mountain or road bike and a helmet to keep your head safe. Just like for running, you can easily mix up your workouts within the realm of biking. Bike up hills for an additional challenge and coast on the way down to cool off. Biking is also a great way to commute to work while getting your daily dose of exercise. If you live within a few miles of your office, consider ditching the car for a refreshing bike ride. Many cities have bicycle lanes that are designated for bikers and commuters.
3 - Swimming
Swimming is a challenging sport that is extremely rewarding as a cardio workout. First of all, you need to know how to swim. If you're not familiar with this, sign up for classes at your local pool. Once you're a competent swimmer, hit the swimming pools where you can do as many back and forth laps as you like. If you live near the ocean, swimming in the open water is an even more challenging environment. Regardless of where you choose to swim, all you really need is a swimsuit and a pair of goggles. Alternate between freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke for even more variety to keep you on your toes. Moreover, each of these different strokes works different muscles in your body, so you can get a full body workout by simply mixing things up.
4 - In-place Exercises
Finally, in-place exercises are amazing if you don't have much space to work with. These exercises can include jumping jacks, burpees and butt kicks. The whole idea is to get your heart rate up without moving a great distance. One reason these workouts are so effective is that they inherently depend on your weight. The more you weigh, the more mass your muscles have to lift, and you end up with a workout of perfect difficulty. In addition, these workouts require absolutely no equipment at all! If you have a short break between classes or meetings, feel free to try some of these exercises as they only take a few minutes. If you want to get a little fancier, purchase medicine balls or other kettle weights for additional resistance. Either way, it's impossible to do these exercises without elevating your heart rate, which is exactly what you are looking for.