Ideas for Summertime Cardio

Flowers4Julia

As a former jazz aerobic instructor from the 80's, I am completely aware of how detrimental chronic cardio is and I am looking for thoughts and suggestions as to what to do this summer for the long "low and slow" workouts that Marks Daily Apple suggests.

His blog today about getting away from chronic cardio really resonates with me.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-evidence-continues-to-mount-against-chronic-cardio/comment-page-2/#comment-973477

I live in the Southern California desert area and during the cooler seasons it is always fun to get out for those types of walks and hilly hikes. But now, it is 90 degrees by 9am and frankly that kind of heat is exhausting!

I do own an elliptical and enjoy it, could I just go really low intensity for an hour a few times a week, does that make sense?

All thoughts welcome! Thank you.

MikeFlyMike

I love getting outside but unfortunately seems like that isn't much of an option. A late night stroll? Any place to go for a swim? Sprint intervals are awesome for you - but the heat would kill I bet. My take on the chronic cardio is that its still ok to do some cardio, but burning like a hamster for 60 minutes a day, the fueling with carbs is just downright silly

Flowers4Julia

Thanks Mike, and I agree! I'm just looking for a way to use my elliptical (in the a/c) in a healthy way while it is scorching outside....

Would love to swim, no access right now., the coyotes might eat me for dinner ;-) if I walked evenings! Now that's primal.....

rotnkat

I have the Pilates Power Gym and I love it. I get my weight baring and cardio done with one machine.

They have different video's you can get or you can make up your own routine. I ordered mine off of HSN and got it with free shipping and flex pays (got love those flex pays) for $289.

Or if you own a WII some of their games & workouts video's are pretty good too.

That's all I got!!! Good luck!!

Anita

agdyl

I ride my road and mountain bike - it's hot here too, but if I go early enough or head up into the mountains it's cooler at elevation and makes the heat tolerable in the mornings or evenings. I don't mind getting up early to beat the heat either.

ThePrimalSpartan

Using the elliptical on a low impact setting (towards the fat burning range) would definitely get you through the summer time, in my opinion anyway. Any strenuous settings, or high intensity (aka heart rate gets wayyy above normal) would cross over into chronic cardio level. Try to keep your heart rate around what it would be during a normal walk around the neighborhood. Slow and easy.

Flowers4Julia

Thanks you guys, all great suggestions and thoughts, appreciate it! I did use my elliptical today.... One hour, very easy pace, watched a movie. It was nice. I noticed how easy it is to increase speed without thinking. But without a lot of other options, this could work.

Thanks :-)

p.s. it is 8 pm and still 100 degrees.....