Cardio Training: 5 Ways to Make Sure You Get Yours in!

Today I’ll be giving you five cardio training options and explain how they will benefit you. Getting your cardio in helps you to perform exercises with correct technique for more reps or for a longer period of time. It also keeps your heart healthy, helping it stay efficient which is why regular cardio training lowers your normal resting heart rate. Need some exercise ideas to maintain your fitness? Then read on for Cardio Training: 5 Ways to Make Sure You Get Yours in!

1. Running

This is a popular choice by many people due to it being less technical than others and you can really increase your fitness and get that ‘runner’s high’ which keeps many people hooked. 

Running allows you to keep building your fitness and endurance in your legs which is very important as they are the foundation of your body. It’s easy to learn and I would suggest starting where you feel comfortable even if it’s a jog or running for a couple of minutes then going back to a fast walk. What is most important is that you have a measurable plan and keep trying to improve upon it in some way, week by week. 

2. HIIT – High Intensity Interval Training 

This is a great way to get your heart rate going and a session can be achieved in 15, 30 or 45 minutes which is great for people who are busy but still want to stay fit.

This is done by doing 20 seconds of training then resting for 30-40 seconds or you could do 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. It just depends on your current level of fitness, however it’s best to stay with something you can handle and keep it sustainable. Then start to improve by increasing the training time or decreasing the rest time. 

HIIT means training at a high intensity for a certain amount of time then resting and repeating. HIIT can also help you keep burning extra calories post- workout

3. Skipping 

Skipping can be a little bit technical when starting out as you have to get the right rhythm and timing to keep the exercise going. Once you crack that however, it’s a great way to get your cardio in as it requires a higher intensity of action with the constant jumping movement which can become quite demanding.

It’s a great way to burn calories. It can be included in a HIIT workout or you could simply try and skip for 5-10 minutes when starting out. 

Once you have mastered this, you can then learn different tricks to keep it interesting and then add it to your workout keeping you engaged whilst still burning a lot of calories, keeping yourself fit and having fun. Don’t forget the music!

4. Step Counting

Being active throughout the day by keeping mobile can of course help you maintain a decent level of fitness. When it comes to step counting, the recommended daily number of steps is 10,000 which is an achievable goal.

You can record the number of steps on your phone as most will have a health app or you can download MyFitnessPal which also has a step counter. If you’re anything like me and often have your phone in your hand or you end up leaving it somewhere, then you won’t know how many steps you’ve actually taken. 

To solve this problem, you can get a Fitbit or any other decent health/fitness watch which will be with you every step of the way.

5. Circuit Training

This is a great way to stay fit and get a lot of volume done in a short amount of time. 

Circuit training consists of multiple exercises performed one after the other, usually a minimum of 3. So for example a circuit could consist of  slamball, jump squats and crunches. The number of exercises and time spent training would depend on your needs, experience and current fitness levels. 

You could start with 3 exercises, performing each one for 15-20 seconds or for a certain number of reps. After you’re happy with your mix of exercises, and are consistent with performing them for a couple of weeks, you would aim to improve upon this in some measurable way each week thereafter.

These are just a few options that can help you make sure you get your cardio in; help you lose body fat; look good and feel great with an improved level of fitness. Give one of the five options discussed above a try!

What are your favourite ways to get your cardio in? What do you notice happens if you don’t get your cardio in? Comment with your thoughts below, and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. Here are more exercise articles on; burpees, lunges, and functional fitness, so there are no excuses not to Keep YOUR Fit ON!

Craig Greenwood

Craig from Manchester, England, is living his dream as a personal trainer. He really enjoys learning and researching about health and fitness and wants to help educate more people about key health and fitness topics. He believes that what he teaches and the passion with which he does it, is of immense practical value to people inside and outside of the gym.

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