Archive for the ‘Cardio Workout’ Category

Starting Your Cardiovascular Program

Tuesday, July 11th, 2006

Starting a cardiovascular program is not a difficult task, but it doesn’t mean that you should go about it in a careless manner. Remember that you are embarking on your cardiovascular program to improve your health – if you injure yourself in the process, then the whole thing is simply counterproductive.

Before you begin your cardiovascular program, it is essential that you get the proper medical advice. To this end, be sure to get a checkup from your doctor before you start. Most people neglect this step and suffer the consequences afterward. Consulting your physician will help you to foresee any potential health problems arising from your increased physical exertion. Your doctor should also be able to recommend the exercises that are best for your current condition.

Obtaining a medical clearance is especially vital if you are: 1) not accustomed to regular exercise, 2) overweight, 2) suffering from high blood pressure, 3) from a family with a history of heart disease, 4) a cigarette smoker, 5) older than 60. All these conditions will affect the cardiovascular exercises that you should be engaged in.

Most experts recommend that you begin your cardiovascular program slowly. To start with, you might want to simply walk for the first few days or weeks, then start jogging a little when you need the challenge. A slow start will help accustom your body to the added strain that you are putting on it.

Alternatively, using exercise machines like treadmills and elliptical machines can help you build up your body. These machines are ideal if you are not the type who likes to get your exercise outside the house, or if you are the type that is easily bored while working out.

Cardiovascular Workouts: An Introduction to Jogging

Wednesday, June 28th, 2006

Jogging is one of most well-known of cardiovascular workouts. It is also one of the most popular. Jogging, like walking, derives much appeal from its simplicity. Despite what you might hear from the popular media, you do not need to have specialized equipment to jog. As long as you have feet, a pair of shoes, and some ground, you can take advantage of this marvelous exercise.

You can jog anytime and anywhere, with other people or without. It is an exercise that you can enjoy by yourself or with the people you love. Either way, you will still derive all the health benefits that jogging has to offer. Like all cardiovascular workouts, jogging strengthens the heart, relieves stress, and reinforces the immune system. It also increases muscle strength, improves body tone, and releases endorphins.

The amount of calories that you burn while jogging will vary depending on the intensity and duration of your cardiovascular workout. For the average person, jogging can burn up to 750 calories, but this number will increase or decrease depending on your body type and weight, as well as the factors mentioned above. As a fat-burner, however, jogging is definitely superior to walking, though the former requires much more effort.

If you feel that you need to lose weight quickly, there are few cardiovascular exercises that can beat jogging. Not only is it straightforward and easy to learn, it’s also cost effective. You won’t need a large outlay of money to get started. In other words, the costs of starting are very small, but the rewards can be tremendous.