Thursday, December 4, 2008

Cardio Workouts

By Jimmy Johnson

When losing weight, don't forget to take care of your body. This may sound like a silly statement, but many people harm themselves when they go on a diet. Many drastically cut their calories and skimp on the exercise. What they don't realize is that exercise is the best way to get rid of unwanted calories, and good cardio workouts are essential to losing weight and maintaining weight loss.

The great thing about cardio workouts is that there are so many different types to choose from, you don't have any excuse for claiming boredom as a reason for quitting. You can make almost any activities into cardio workouts. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you should begin with simple cardio workouts, because you body won't handle extreme workouts very well at first. You don't want to overdo it, and then quit because it is too strenuous. Begin by walking, and walk at a fast enough pace to get your heart rate slightly elevated.

House cleaning sessions can be cardio workouts if you do it right. Keep moving while you clean, and do activities that require vigorous motions, like scrubbing and vacuuming. You can also include your children in your cardio workouts. My daughter and I like to dance along to Wiggle's DVDs. They have quite a few that have nothing but songs, and these will keep you moving. The dance moves are not that hard, and it'll be easy for you and your children to learn the moves and keep up. As far as cardio workouts go, this is one that is a lot of fun.

Check out your television programming to find out any channels that offer fitness workouts. You can find great activities such as flow yoga, aerobics and step-fit programs that will kick start your day with a boost of energy. Find a few shows that you like and alternate between them to give yourself some variety, as well as target different muscle groups.

Make sure you start out gradually, so you don't overdo yourself and get discouraged. It will not take long before you notice a difference and start keeping up with all the moves. At this point you can either choose to continue with your home workout routine, or join a gym for a bit more of a challenge. Gyms can offer a lot more types of cardio workouts that you can't do at home.

Whether you are losing weight or getting fit, the keep to taking up a cardio routine is to find something you like, start slowly and stick with it. After a few weeks you will certainly notice a difference, both in your body and your mind, which will certainly be good a motivator to keep going. If you ever get tired of your cardio routine, feel free to mix it up with something new and different so you don't get bored.

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