Planning an Effective Cardio Workout

cardio equipment raw fitness marion ilThere are many benefits of doing a cardio workout, but many people do not know what constitutes an effective cardiovascular workout. A successful cardio routine at the gym involves some key elements that are not found in programs that use equipment such as the treadmill, elliptical, etc.

There are many tips to make sure you make the most of your cardiovascular workout. The first step you should take when planning your cardio workout is to know exactly what you plan to do ahead of time. You should aim for approximately 2-3 sessions each week, and create workouts that progressively get harder. When you are able to handle more is when you will realize you are having an effective workout.

If you always have a habit of skipping your cardio workout, you should do it when you first get to the gym or opt to do your cardio workout on your off days from the gym. To maximize your cardio workout, you should do a dynamic warm-up. This will increase mobility, limit your chance of an injury, and prepare your body for the work out. Often times, warm ups are overlooked. However, it is important to do a warm-up so that you do not put yourself in a position to get injured or hurt.

You should try to avoid staying at the same pace for an extended period of time unless you are training for a long-distance run or a marathon. This is important because varying degrees of intensity will cause a greater increase in metabolism than steady work can provide. Regular work outs are important. One work out will not get you to your fitness goals! Get into a routine and stick with it.