When a person wants to lose weight one type of exercise they should consider is any form of a cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercises help your heart pump the blood through the body. Activities which raise a person’s heart beat per minute are under the category of cardiovascular. Running, jogging, swimming, spinning, and other strenuous activities can be beneficial exercises for the entire body. These types of cardiovascular activities are called high impact where walking is generally is done as a low impact exercise.
Cardio, shortened for cardiovascular activities, should be done at least three times a week for 20-30 minutes each week. Exercise machines that are used in gyms commonly for cardio are treadmills, elliptical, Stairmasters, bikes and rowers. Most of the cardiovascular machines can record your heart beat on their built in heart monitors. There is also a platform where all your body’s stats can be monitored throughout the workout.
Some gyms have pools and basketball courts which also develop a strong cardiovascular system. Aerobic classes such as kickboxing, cardio box, boot camp, and step are great alternatives to using gym machines.
Losing weight through these activities is very common. Cardio allows a person to sweat and burn up calories the body intakes during the day. Some people enjoy listening to music, watching television, or talking with a friend while exercising. Many people walk and talk which gives them time to exercise and catch up with a friend. Cardiovascular activity is one form of exercise which can be done anywhere. Walking outside, jumping rope in the basement, or by using an exercise video right in your very own living room; weight loss can be accomplished.
Workouts which affect an individual’s heart rate also affect their lung capacity and reathing. The higher the heart rate is raised, the more calories are burned. The ideal heart rate for a cardiovascular workout varies depending on many factors. The standing rate which is the amount of heart beats while their not physically active, also called their resting heart rate. Resting heart rates vary based on the individual’s genetic make up; it is also affected by their age and weight. Depending on the type of workout a person chooses to do, all they raise their heart rate from the resting stage. While raising the heart rate to a certain level is good for fat burning, increasing the heart rate even further creates an intense cardiovascular workout.
While there are many different opinions and approaches, the basic goal is the same. Whether someone jogs, swims, rides a bike, or plays a sport, enjoying the activity should be part of the reason of doing it, as well as for the benefits to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Cardiovascular workouts are usually part of any exercise program, and can be done alone, with a friend, or in a group. Some people simply workout in or around their homes, while others pay for gym memberships or for other facilities which allow for the cardio workout the individual desires. Finding which approach and exercise works best for your particular body is the best rule to follow.