Exercising is something that should be involved in everyone’s routine. Unfortunately, some of us really don’t enjoy the cardio aspect of it! If you despise cardio, don’t worry; you’re not alone, and there are a few tricks to finishing cardio in ways you might not have thought.
Cardio takes a lot of time. Indeed, one of the most frequent concerns we hear from patients who come to us for physical therapy sessions is that they just don’t have enough time in their busy schedules to complete workouts. Most days, regardless of time constraints, many people report a lack of self-motivation simply because they can’t bear the idea of doing cardio.
Fortunately, a physical trainer may assist you in incorporating cardio into your workout regimen in ways that you can find enjoyable – or at the very least tolerable!
Call our office now to learn more about how to effectively execute these strategies!
1. Find a fun way to track your progress!
Tracking your progress doesn’t have to be hard. There are various applications available for free download on your devices that are designed to assist you in tracking your aerobic development. Even the Health app, which comes pre-installed on every iPhone, keeps track of how many steps you take, how many miles you run or walk, and how many stairs you ascend in a day. Some of the more sophisticated applications will also monitor your heart rate or the pace at which you perform your normal aerobic workouts.
If you find cardio boring, there are some more engaging apps such as Ingress, Pokemon Go, or Jurassic World Alive that still keep track of your mileage while also drawing you into an exciting virtual world. What better way to complete your cardio than by playing a game? You may not even notice how much you’re completing!
2. Start slow, and start small.
Cardio has a significant time constraint. For those who work full-time and have extra commitments, even the idea of completing a half-hour or more of exercise may be daunting. That is why it could be preferable to divide the cardio into smaller doses.
You can also aim for 30 minutes of cardio a day, but splitting it up into three 10-minute increments can make it feel more manageable. Before getting ready for the day, wake up 10 minutes sooner and go for a brisk 10-minute stroll or jog.
Take 10 minutes of your lunch break to walk to a cafe to grab lunch. Jog down the block for 10 minutes after you get home, while you’re waiting for the dinner in the oven to be ready. By splitting it up into three different sessions, it will seem as if you aren’t using up as much time – just remember that high-intensity matters in small doses, so do your best to get the best results!
3. Try something new.
If you are doing something you enjoy, sometimes you’ll be able to complete your cardio exercises without even knowing you’re doing so.These are all physical activities that can get your heart rate up and allow you to get the cardio you need, but they’re not repetitive or boring. There may be a physical activity that you love doing in your spare time that you didn’t even know counted as cardio.
For example, cardio can be accomplished through:
- Biking.
- Hiking.
- Mountain climbing.
- Dancing.
- Swimming.
- And more!
Your physical therapist can help you narrow down what activities count as cardio, and how often you should be doing them in order to see the best results.
Get back into a regular cardio routine today
Give our office a call today if you want to bring cardio back into your everyday workout routine. Our physical therapists are well-equipped to assist you in achieving the optimal level of physical health, and they will assist you in incorporating cardio into your regimen in a manner that fits your lifestyle.
Schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists today to get started on developing a tailored fitness regimen that you can look forward to following!
