How I Learned To Like Cardio
Colorscheme
Posts: 1,179 Member
I see a lot of questions like: "how do I get started with cardio?" "how will my body handle it if I am overweight?"
Well, the answer is: start slow!
Back in August, I bought a Fitbit for my birthday. At the same time, I started doing Leslie Sansone's walking videos indoors. I started with the one mile walk once a day. After 3 months, I found that I had more stamina and started doing them twice a day. Did that for a bit, then progressed to Leslie's HIIT workout. Did that and one day started jogging and voila! Now I like running and I do it all indoors as I am a full time stay at home and I don't have a car so I couldn't go to the gym even if I wanted to.
I also do it in front of my tv so it doesn't even feel like a workout.
Now, if you have a pre existing condition, are very overweight or obese, then get the all clear from your doctor and start slow. Walk slowly for a couple of minutes if that's all you can manage. If you're in pain, STOP. If you need to take breaks, do so. Whatever gets you up and moving is great, even if it's only for a little bit. Eventually you will build stamina and be able to accomplish anything.
Well, the answer is: start slow!
Back in August, I bought a Fitbit for my birthday. At the same time, I started doing Leslie Sansone's walking videos indoors. I started with the one mile walk once a day. After 3 months, I found that I had more stamina and started doing them twice a day. Did that for a bit, then progressed to Leslie's HIIT workout. Did that and one day started jogging and voila! Now I like running and I do it all indoors as I am a full time stay at home and I don't have a car so I couldn't go to the gym even if I wanted to.
I also do it in front of my tv so it doesn't even feel like a workout.
Now, if you have a pre existing condition, are very overweight or obese, then get the all clear from your doctor and start slow. Walk slowly for a couple of minutes if that's all you can manage. If you're in pain, STOP. If you need to take breaks, do so. Whatever gets you up and moving is great, even if it's only for a little bit. Eventually you will build stamina and be able to accomplish anything.
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You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?0
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Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
I am glad I am not the only one who that.
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Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
It is?? I had no idea. I though it meant someone who doesn't hate running or jogging. Oops. I'll change the title. Thanks for letting me know.0 -
I was about to report this post for it! Sheesh!Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?0 -
I was about to report this post for it! Sheesh!Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
Ok well I had no idea that it was even a bad thing, like I said, I thought the term meant something else completely. I don't even go to the gym so how am I supposed to know otherwise? Luckily someone else pointed it out so I changed the thread title.0 -
Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
EVERYONE TO THEIR SAFE SPACE!!!
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I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.0
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Guys, it's okay: she's taking it back!
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realityfades wrote: »I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.
As far as I can tell, it's basically people referring to girls (very rarely guys) who only show up and run on the treadmill on the gym and don't do weights or anything. But honestly, people should do whatever they want at the gym. So it's a derogatory term created by judgmental people who don't have better things to think about.0 -
I was about to report this post for it! Sheesh!Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
Seriously? It's not a complimentary term but it doesn't exactly arise to the level of "OMG I can't believe she said the CB words" level.0 -
realityfades wrote: »I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.
So part of it is the 80-90's obsession with heavy cardio, especially for women. Basically the idea that if women wanted to not "bulk up" they better stick to 1-2 weights and sweating their buns off on the treadmill.
Usually when somebody calls themselves a cardio bunny, they are referring to the past before they integrated strength training into their workouts, when they were relying solely on cardio to get their desired body.
I am 100% not knocking cardio. I run. Slowly, but I run.
ETA: I have just never seen it used in a positive way -- I wouldn't have reported the thread for it of anything, clearly you meant it positively.0 -
itsfuntobenormal wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.
So part of it is the 80-90's obsession with heavy cardio, especially for women. Basically the idea that if women wanted to not "bulk up" they better stick to 1-2 weights and sweating their buns off on the treadmill.
Usually when somebody calls themselves a cardio bunny, they are referring to the past before they integrated strength training into their workouts, when they were relying solely on cardio to get their desired body.
I am 100% not knocking cardio. I run. Slowly, but I run.
Oooooh, okay. Thanks. I really had no idea, I was a little kid in the eighties and a tween/teenager in the nineties. Thank goodness someone upthread pointed it out.0 -
I'm a proud cardio bunny. Call me that, and even if you mean it negatively, I won't be offended. Mostly because I don't care what anyone else thinks of me. :-)0
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itsfuntobenormal wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.
So part of it is the 80-90's obsession with heavy cardio, especially for women. Basically the idea that if women wanted to not "bulk up" they better stick to 1-2 weights and sweating their buns off on the treadmill.
Usually when somebody calls themselves a cardio bunny, they are referring to the past before they integrated strength training into their workouts, when they were relying solely on cardio to get their desired body.
I am 100% not knocking cardio. I run. Slowly, but I run.
ETA: I have just never seen it used in a positive way -- I wouldn't have reported the thread for it of anything, clearly you meant it positively.
i constantly call myself a cardio bunny0 -
realityfades wrote: »
That would explain it, maybe rabbits are your spirit animal.
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Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »realityfades wrote: »
That would explain it, maybe rabbits are your spirit animal.
Ahahaha, maybe! I have two lops and a Netherland dwarf, they are awesome and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. Plus, they're litter trained like a cat.0 -
Capt_Apollo wrote: »itsfuntobenormal wrote: »realityfades wrote: »I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.
So part of it is the 80-90's obsession with heavy cardio, especially for women. Basically the idea that if women wanted to not "bulk up" they better stick to 1-2 weights and sweating their buns off on the treadmill.
Usually when somebody calls themselves a cardio bunny, they are referring to the past before they integrated strength training into their workouts, when they were relying solely on cardio to get their desired body.
I am 100% not knocking cardio. I run. Slowly, but I run.
ETA: I have just never seen it used in a positive way -- I wouldn't have reported the thread for it of anything, clearly you meant it positively.
i constantly call myself a cardio bunny
Do you even triathlon?0 -
I AM THE CARDIO QUEEN!!! WHAT A GREAT HIGH!!!! LOVE IT!0
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Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
It's cool. We're taking it back
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Of_Monsters_and_Meat wrote: »You know "cardio bunny" is a derogatory term?
Really? I hear it used as a "cutesy" way to compliment a woman who works out, mostly from woman to woman. Different cultural uses I guess.0 -
I never saw "cardio bunny" as being a bad thing.
It's actually surprising to me that some people spend so much time in a gym or working out and do no cardio. Both strength and cardio can compliment one another, and a lot of people avoid the one they like the least.
Back when I didn't have much choice in doing cardio, I didn't enjoy it as much. And now certain types I like more than others. But for me it's just a different challenge vs strength type training.0 -
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realityfades wrote: »I want to ask where the derogatory term comes from, becuase I am clearly oblivious and only realized the title of the thread was bad when someone pointed it out. Is it a new thing? or maybe at the ripe old age of 31, I'm over the hill and unable to keep up with trends.
I seriously doubt that anyone seriously into fitness and not having a serious inferiority complex would come up with a way to insult others for their preferance in exercise, so my guesses are:
From people with no stamina, unable to run or use a bike for more than 10 minutes, who consider this as too hard work and the thought that someome might actually enjoy it has never crossed their mind?
From old school lifters on steroids?
From out of shape women jealous of slimmer women who could run for an hour withour wheezing and feeling like dying?
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I am a "cardio Junkie" all because of Leslie Sansone too! I could not even hang with her for a quarter mile when I started. Now I power walk outdoors 7 miles, "power golf" and do her videos when the weather is not cooperating. Today I did 5 Leslie miles. Leslie not only helped me shed 22 pounds but also gave me back my life after a heart attack and back surgeries. I love the cardio high too!0
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RealityFades, I started out similarly. I started getting up before the Universe and walking 20 minutes on the treadmill 3 times a week. Distance was less important than just being active. My thought process was by going that early, pretty much straight out of bed, I would be halfway done (or more) before I started to wake up and realize what I was doing. Eventually, I added running for a minute, walking for 4, and gradually working in more running. Now I regularly run 2+ miles 3x weekly and I do a number of 5k races through out the year.
I agree with your premise whole heartedly.
As to everyone else on the post, I'm really surprised at the focus given to the semantics of her subject title instead of the content and great intentions of the message.0 -
This made my day. 0
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RealityFades, I started out similarly. I started getting up before the Universe and walking 20 minutes on the treadmill 3 times a week. Distance was less important than just being active. My thought process was by going that early, pretty much straight out of bed, I would be halfway done (or more) before I started to wake up and realize what I was doing. Eventually, I added running for a minute, walking for 4, and gradually working in more running. Now I regularly run 2+ miles 3x weekly and I do a number of 5k races through out the year.
I agree with your premise whole heartedly.
As to everyone else on the post, I'm really surprised at the focus given to the semantics of her subject title instead of the content and great intentions of the message.
Well thanks. I was trying to be motivating and let people know that you just don't get up and decide to run one day. Running takes a lot of stamina and you need to take it slow and build up endurance.
If you watch My 600 Lb Life, sometimes you'll see the people starting out by walking slowly and then as they lose the weight, their fitness level improves and they're able to walk faster and further than they previously could. Or you'll see them exercise by simply lifting and lowering their arms without any weight. Whatever gets you moving is great and that slow and steady wins the race.
My mom is morbidly obese and I wish she would at least try to move a little, but she's a bit like the infamous Penny and always makes excuses instead of doing what is better for her.0 -
I was not 600 lb, but when I started, walking fast (at least what felt fast at the time, more like a wadde to me now) for more than 5 minutes straight was an ordeal. Even when I developed enough stamina to consider running, c25k was too advanced for me. I did this plan instead to work up to it.0
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