Everyone is on their own unique health journey. Whether you want to lose weight, train for your sport, boost your heart health, or age gracefully, your goals will look different. As far as exercise goes, cardio is one of the best ways to achieve success for all of those objectives. You simply have to pick the best type of cardio for your fitness goals.
Cardio For Weight Loss
If your goal is to lose weight, you should do HIIT or steady-state cardio. HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training. HIIT focuses on a combination of short bursts of high-energy movement in a short amount of time. This type of exercise is great for burning fat without losing muscle. Steady-state cardio is also recommended for weight loss because it is less intense and ideal for beginners. The term ‘steady-state’ refers to keeping your heart rate in a consistent range for an extended amount of time. Examples of this would be walking, biking, or jogging.
We recommend a treadmill for weight loss because it allows you to do both HIIT and steady-state workouts. Our TR5500iM treadmill is ideal because it features a full-color touchscreen that allows you to watch your progress throughout your workout.
Cardio For Sports Training
If you are looking to get into better shape for your sport, your cardio should focus on endurance which is sometimes referred to as cardiovascular fitness. Cardiovascular fitness is important for athletes because it gets your lungs to pump more oxygen to the blood, helping your muscles perform at their best. For cardiovascular training, you could do a slow, long-distance run or circuit training. Cross-training machines, like the CycleBoxer, are a great way to add variety to your training.
Comparison chart of different goals showing which cardio and equipment is recommended.
Cardio For A Healthy Heart
For heart health, experts say you should focus on consistency. It doesn’t matter what specific workout you are doing, what matters is that you are exercising regularly (around 4-5 times per week.) Whether you enjoy running, walking, or weight training, you need to get moving to improve your cardiovascular health. Rowing is a great way to get your heart pumping. Our RW1000 Indoor Rower is perfect for quick workouts at home, plus, it folds away when you’re done.
Cardio For Better Aging
If your main concern is aging well, you will want to focus on a combination of cardiovascular and low-impact exercises. These will help you build endurance for long-term health, give you energy and keep your mind sharp. Cycling is a great option because it is low impact while still being moderately intense. A recumbent bike is safe on the joints and great for cardio.
Overall, cardio is a great way to reach your fitness goals. And remember cardio doesn’t have to be boring! Find the right equipment or routine that gets you excited to workout. For more health and wellness tips follow us on Instagram or visit our website.
