Quick Fitness Guide – What is Cardio?

Introduction

When people ask ‘what is cardio?’ the reply can sometimes be quite complex. The basic answer is that cardiovascular exercise (cardio for short) is any form of exercise that raises your heart rate for a sustained period. Cardio is also sometimes called aerobic exercise, and this article gives a quick guide to the benefits of cardio and some of the most common examples.

Health benefits

Regular cardiovascular exercise provides many health benefits. The strength and efficiency of the heart are improved, lung capacity is increased, and the metabolism is elevated which helps to burn fat. Those who regularly participate in cardio exercise are usually less likely to suffer from symptoms of stress and anxiety, and are more likely to possess a general sense of well-being. Regular cardio usually leads to better quality sleep, which means that you can concentrate to a greater degree and for longer periods.

Image benefits

For most people, the number one reason for starting a cardio exercise regime is to reduce weight and improve their image. People who are fitter generally appear healthier and a usually gain a confidence boost from this improvement in appearance. This can lead to a person looking (and feeling) more attractive and help them to appeal to the opposite sex.

Running

Running is often the first exercise recommended when people ask about cardiovascular exercise. There are many simple reasons for this – no gym subscription is required, you only need some loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and good running shoes, and you can do it pretty much anywhere. Although running is very beneficial for weight loss and general fitness, it does have some negatives. Running creates a lot of impact on your feet, knees and hips, and people often experience other minor injuries such as Achilles tendonitis and shin splints (ow!). For heavier people, the likelihood of these injuries is increased. For many people, brisk walking is a good compromise until some weight is dropped and fitness starts to improve, but many people believe it is better to start off with another exercise – swimming.

Swimming

Swimming is considered by many to be the best cardio exercise of all. Swimming is a zero impact activity, as all your joints are supported by the water. It’s also a total body exercise and therefore pretty much every muscle in your body is used. Proper technique is very important (otherwise you’ll tire very quickly) so a few weeks of swimming lessons is a very good idea. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise and you’ll regularly see people in their 60’s and even 70’s in the pool doing lap after lap. Start off slowly, and you’ll soon be catching up with them!

Jump rope

As a martial artist, jumping rope (or skipping as we call it) is my personal favourite cardio exercise. Jumping rope properly is a skill and will take a few weeks to get to grips with, but when executed correctly the impact is far less than running due to the fact the your feet barely leave the ground during each jump. Add in the fact that your arms are also doing a lot of work and you’ve got a very useful compound cardio exercise. Again – start slow, learn correct technique and build up gradually. As a guide to the level of fitness that can be achieved with skipping, Muay Thai fighters regularly jump rope for 30 minutes as a warm up!

Closing comments

I’ve given you a basic rundown of what cardio exercise is, why it is beneficial, and some basic exercises to get you started. It’s up to you now – good luck!

Learn more about The Fastest Way To Lose Fat. Stop by Sam Masters’s site where you can find out all about How To Lose Belly Fat and what it can do for you.