Anyone have a good gym workout routine (cardio)
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Replies
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Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »If your goal is simply to burn calories...
I haven't found anything better than running outside...
Things like jumping rope and rowing might burn more calories... But you won't be able to go as long [/quote
Thank you 🙏 🙏 I haven’t tried running outside I’m very shy and don’t feel confident doing that. I’m really unfit too. I enjoy rowing & I haven’t done skipping since I was a child 🙈 but I’m happy to give that ago.. what about hoola hooping so you know if that’s any good ? Thank u0 -
paigethurlow95 wrote: »carlaringuette wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »paigethurlow95 wrote: »Hey so just I usually just go with the flow at the gym usually go on the treadmill, bike & cross trainer. Does anyone have a cardio plan? I only do cardio because not sure how to use the weight machines.
Did you recently join the gym? Every gym I've ever joined offered 1-3 sessions with a personal trainer. If you've missed the window for this, it's worth it to pay for a few sessions to clarify goals, get familiar with the weights, and develop a routine.
My cardio plan is mostly outdoors and so seasonal and weather dependent.- Just did a bunch of post-frost fall cleanup.
- Earlier this month we dug up a 3' x 60' strip of grass and planted ornamental grass and mulched.
- I'm fixing to push away from the computer and go hiking.
- I don't let the winter cold and snow deter me - I bundle up and go to the state park where it's partially plowed and partially packed down by other walkers and skiers.
- Or for an extremely intense workout I strap on the snowshoes and clomp around on the paths out back behind my house.
- I also maintain these trails. Satisfies the gardening itch off season.
- Spring I do lots of gardening
- Summer I swim
- When it's raining I do yoga indoors.
Exactly! Also, get what you're paying for, ask about the free training sessions. I just joined the gym last week and had my first session Friday. Now I have a full body workout. Not just guessing.
Really need to find your why and set some goals. Then you will see results.
Good luck on your journey!
My only goal is to lose weight
I was just wondering what sort of cardio stuff people do and what there routines are like.
I used to have the "exercise is for weight loss" mentality. My problem was, when I wasn't actively losing weight, I dropped exercise. The weight I lost came back....of course. Try to think of exercise as something you do for your health. Do you want to be healthy always? Then find cardio you enjoy and do that. Don't worry about other people routines. You get a far more consistent weight loss result by managing your calorie intake anyway.2 -
suggestion, this is what i do during the winter months when outside running isnt safe / smart due to below freezing temps and ice.
Jump Rope to Warm up
10 mins bike
10 mins elliptical
10 mins treadmill run/jog
1K Row
10 min Stair stepper
Cool Down on the treadmill
I get bored running more then 20 mins on the treadmill.... hamster wheel....
so i spice it up some and vary the cardio eqpt into the workout. Sometimes toss some jump rope, jumping jacks, squat jumps, etc in between the eqpt.
Make it fun
Again just some suggestions.2 -
paigethurlow95 wrote: »Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »If your goal is simply to burn calories...
I haven't found anything better than running outside...
Things like jumping rope and rowing might burn more calories... But you won't be able to go as long
Thank you 🙏 🙏 I haven’t tried running outside I’m very shy and don’t feel confident doing that. I’m really unfit too. I enjoy rowing & I haven’t done skipping since I was a child 🙈 but I’m happy to give that ago.. what about hoola hooping so you know if that’s any good ? Thank u
Running outside is pretty great and you can and should ease into it, if it's something that interests you. I don't always love being out in the elements (I don't do well if it's at all warm or sunny) but I got my running feet under me the past few years and now one of the highlights of my week is getting out at the crack of dawn on a Saturday and running up and down rocky hills in a nearby park. I'm 41 and played 8 years of roller derby so my knees are pretty tired so I keep the trail stuff to once or twice a week though and pay attention to my shoes, and you should feel out with maybe a couch to 5k program or find somewhere to hike and just go a little harder a little further over time. Also a good way to plow through audiobooks! Just keep one ear on the environment, of course.2 -
paigethurlow95 wrote: »carlaringuette wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »paigethurlow95 wrote: »Hey so just I usually just go with the flow at the gym usually go on the treadmill, bike & cross trainer. Does anyone have a cardio plan? I only do cardio because not sure how to use the weight machines.
Did you recently join the gym? Every gym I've ever joined offered 1-3 sessions with a personal trainer. If you've missed the window for this, it's worth it to pay for a few sessions to clarify goals, get familiar with the weights, and develop a routine.
My cardio plan is mostly outdoors and so seasonal and weather dependent.- Just did a bunch of post-frost fall cleanup.
- Earlier this month we dug up a 3' x 60' strip of grass and planted ornamental grass and mulched.
- I'm fixing to push away from the computer and go hiking.
- I don't let the winter cold and snow deter me - I bundle up and go to the state park where it's partially plowed and partially packed down by other walkers and skiers.
- Or for an extremely intense workout I strap on the snowshoes and clomp around on the paths out back behind my house.
- I also maintain these trails. Satisfies the gardening itch off season.
- Spring I do lots of gardening
- Summer I swim
- When it's raining I do yoga indoors.
Exactly! Also, get what you're paying for, ask about the free training sessions. I just joined the gym last week and had my first session Friday. Now I have a full body workout. Not just guessing.
Really need to find your why and set some goals. Then you will see results.
Good luck on your journey!
My only goal is to lose weight I was just wondering what sort of cardio stuff people do and what there routines are like.
I used to have the "exercise is for weight loss" mentality. My problem was, when I wasn't actively losing weight, I dropped exercise. The weight I lost came back....of course. Try to think of exercise as something you do for your health. Do you want to be healthy always? Then find cardio you enjoy and do that. Don't worry about other people routines. You get a far more consistent weight loss result by managing your calorie intake anyway.
Thank you yes I do want to get healthy. That’s my only goal to get fit and healthy for my son so I can run around with him without feeling so out of breath. When I first started the gym I was going 4/5 a week now Ive only been going twice a week if that as stupid as it seems but I felt more confident when I was 3 and a half stone bigger to go to the gym. Now I don’t feel confident going to the gym and I have no idea because I love my results so far from loosing weight. 0 -
My gym cardio is doing intervals on the treadmill, about 15 minutes varying the incline before I strength train, and 15-20 minutes varying the speed after strength training. The intervals help me not get too bored.0
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MelanieCN77 wrote: »paigethurlow95 wrote: »Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »If your goal is simply to burn calories...
I haven't found anything better than running outside...
Things like jumping rope and rowing might burn more calories... But you won't be able to go as long
Thank you 🙏 🙏 I haven’t tried running outside I’m very shy and don’t feel confident doing that. I’m really unfit too. I enjoy rowing & I haven’t done skipping since I was a child 🙈 but I’m happy to give that ago.. what about hoola hooping so you know if that’s any good ? Thank u
Running outside is pretty great and you can and should ease into it, if it's something that interests you. I don't always love being out in the elements (I don't do well if it's at all warm or sunny) but I got my running feet under me the past few years and now one of the highlights of my week is getting out at the crack of dawn on a Saturday and running up and down rocky hills in a nearby park. I'm 41 and played 8 years of roller derby so my knees are pretty tired so I keep the trail stuff to once or twice a week though and pay attention to my shoes, and you should feel out with maybe a couch to 5k program or find somewhere to hike and just go a little harder a little further over time. Also a good way to plow through audiobooks! Just keep one ear on the environment, of course.
1 -
suggestion, this is what i do during the winter months when outside running isnt safe / smart due to below freezing temps and ice.
Jump Rope to Warm up
10 mins bike
10 mins elliptical
10 mins treadmill run/jog
1K Row
10 min Stair stepper
Cool Down on the treadmill
I get bored running more then 20 mins on the treadmill.... hamster wheel....
so i spice it up some and vary the cardio eqpt into the workout. Sometimes toss some jump rope, jumping jacks, squat jumps, etc in between the eqpt.
Make it fun
Again just some suggestions.
Thanks so much for your reply. I do jumping jacks at home and enjoy that! I would like to try the stair stepper too. There’s been a few times where I’ve just been on the treadmill for up to 1 hour walking,jogging and it has got boring so I do agree mixing it up a bit makes it more fun 😬1 -
Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »
Haha could be!1 -
My gym cardio is doing intervals on the treadmill, about 15 minutes varying the incline before I strength train, and 15-20 minutes varying the speed after strength training. The intervals help me not get too bored.
I usually warm up and walk for around 5 mins then jog for 10 mins then have a little 3/4 mins walk and then jog again for as long as I can (usually never more than 10 mins) then walk again. After I have finished jogging I put the incline up 0 -
How I started tho when I was really have 330+, was simply walking... 1 mile, to 2 miles... Eventually 5 miles with a weighted vest...
I remember walking that 5 mile trail with the vest on telling myself, one of these days... I'm going to run this trail...
Now it's nothing to run it...2 -
Personally my goals are: 1. maximize fitness, 2. burn lots of calories, 3. don't waste time accomplishing 1 and 2 (be efficient).
The rowing machine (ergometer) uses almost every major muscle group in your body. It is an intense, demanding, total body workout. If I row, I don't have to worry about targeting this muscle group or doing a different exercise to target a different muscle group... it's a full body effort. This allows me to accomplish goals 1/2/3 with ease.
Thing thing is, you HAVE GOT TO know how to use the machine. Go on Youtube, watch some rowing tutorials, and don't hurt yourself. People love to hate rowing - it's too hard, they say. Well, you're not racing right? You're not competing. Go at your own pace, learn it properly, and if you can't keep up, slow down - you're not there to prove anything, you're there for you, right? If you want to do a 5k row and you can only manage a split time of 5 minutes (very very slow), who cares, as long as you keep working at it and improving. Anyone can row, don't let the critics turn you off; it's really rewarding and efficient and great for you.1 -
Cardio has been well covered.
If you don't know what to do with the machines at the gym, have a look at this routine (below).
It is a good beginners routine and you can work in using free weights, or changing to a freeweight programme, when you are ready.
Cheers, h.
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/ultimate-beginners-machine-workout-for-women.html1 -
I may be alone here, or I may be missing something, but I'm always quite baffled by paying for a gym membership for cardio.
I always see it as people driving 10km to the gym to run in place for 10km on a treadmill and paying for the privilege
.
I can understand if you're using the strength machines, lifting or even using some specialised cardio equipment like a rowing machine but for the price of a gym membership to ride a spin bike you could probably buy yourself a entry level road bicycle to enjoy riding outside and have enough left over to buy an indoor trainer for cold/wet/busy days.
To each their own I guess...1 -
I didn't read most of the replies, but if basic weight loss is your only real goal, I'd look into adding some time on the rowing machine into your routine. Personally, I'd do 1 machine per day/session, rather than doing a few minutes on each, but that's me.1
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If you like the treadmill, try couch to 5k. It's always good.
If you're not sure about the weight machines, you can always ask a trainer about specific ones, or you could book a single PT session just to run through them all at one, if you'd rather do it that way.1 -
paigethurlow95 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »paigethurlow95 wrote: »Hey so just I usually just go with the flow at the gym usually go on the treadmill, bike & cross trainer. Does anyone have a cardio plan? I only do cardio because not sure how to use the weight machines.
Did you recently join the gym? Every gym I've ever joined offered 1-3 sessions with a personal trainer. If you've missed the window for this, it's worth it to pay for a few sessions to clarify goals, get familiar with the weights, and develop a routine.
My cardio plan is mostly outdoors and so seasonal and weather dependent.- Just did a bunch of post-frost fall cleanup.
- Earlier this month we dug up a 3' x 60' strip of grass and planted ornamental grass and mulched.
- I'm fixing to push away from the computer and go hiking.
- I don't let the winter cold and snow deter me - I bundle up and go to the state park where it's partially plowed and partially packed down by other walkers and skiers.
- Or for an extremely intense workout I strap on the snowshoes and clomp around on the paths out back behind my house.
- I also maintain these trails. Satisfies the gardening itch off season.
- Spring I do lots of gardening
- Summer I swim
- When it's raining I do yoga indoors.
Thank you for your reply. No I joined in February I was showed how to use the cardio machines because that’s all I was interested in at the time. The gym I go to the gym instructor is always sitting in the office at the reception but there are never in the gym unless they are checking, I feel like I don’t want to bother them. I go on my own so a bit shy on trying new things especially if the gym is full. 😫
The staff is probably bored out of their minds and would welcome your questions, and anyway, it's their job to answer questions.
But first sign up for a few sessions with a PT so you can have their undivided attention for a good chunk of time.
I hate full gyms and either belonged to gyms with low membership or went at off peak times.2 -
Personally my goals are: 1. maximize fitness, 2. burn lots of calories, 3. don't waste time accomplishing 1 and 2 (be efficient).
The rowing machine (ergometer) uses almost every major muscle group in your body. It is an intense, demanding, total body workout. If I row, I don't have to worry about targeting this muscle group or doing a different exercise to target a different muscle group... it's a full body effort. This allows me to accomplish goals 1/2/3 with ease.
Thing thing is, you HAVE GOT TO know how to use the machine. Go on Youtube, watch some rowing tutorials, and don't hurt yourself. People love to hate rowing - it's too hard, they say. Well, you're not racing right? You're not competing. Go at your own pace, learn it properly, and if you can't keep up, slow down - you're not there to prove anything, you're there for you, right? If you want to do a 5k row and you can only manage a split time of 5 minutes (very very slow), who cares, as long as you keep working at it and improving. Anyone can row, don't let the critics turn you off; it's really rewarding and efficient and great for you.
I tried to let it lay; I can't.
Rowing is great. On water is more fun than machines, but it's all good exercise.
Smart rowers balance the rowing "total body workout" with something(s) that compensates for the fact that rowing is all lower body push and upper body pull. Doing lots of rowing without attention to the opposing muscle groups is risking long-term imbalances that can cause musculoskeletal problems.2 -
I may be alone here, or I may be missing something, but I'm always quite baffled by paying for a gym membership for cardio.
I always see it as people driving 10km to the gym to run in place for 10km on a treadmill and paying for the privilege.
I can understand if you're using the strength machines, lifting or even using some specialised cardio equipment like a rowing machine but for the price of a gym membership to ride a spin bike you could probably buy yourself a entry level road bicycle to enjoy riding outside and have enough left over to buy an indoor trainer for cold/wet/busy days.
To each their own I guess...
Winter. Dark still by the time I start work. I don't do dark + snow/ice. I can do the snow/ice on the weekend when it's not dark, but during the week I'm on a treadmill over the winter.
So M/W/F is lifting using the squat rack (not enough ceiling room to do a OHP at home) and T/T is treadmill.
1 -
The Gym can be a tough place. When I first started I was intimidated by the machines and the people so I didn't spend much time there. I just hopped on the treadmill and maybe go for a lap or two in the pool and leave. Since then, I've gotten much better. I've really gotten into group fitness and doing boot camp style workouts but I still enjoy the gym.
Now on to your question, it really depends on what your goal is. If you're looking to burn fat find your max heart rate (220-(Your Age)). Then 60 to 70% of that is your target heart rate, this is where you burn fat. You can do interval running (AKA: run/walk). If you're wondering what that looks like it's when you can still talk but really don't want to. Set the treadmill to around 3 this will be your walking pace and taking it up to 4 or 5 during the run phase. If you're not in great shape run 30 seconds then walk for 1 minute keeping your heart rate at the lower end of your fat burning range then do it again. Keep that pace up for 30 min. You can adjust the intervals as you see fit. There are a few apps that can help you with intervals my favorite is C TO 5K by zen labs. Even if you're not training for a 5K it helps you build endurance.
Weight bearing exercises are really great for burning fat and most gym's offer a free personal training session to new members this can really help with getting to know your machines and how to use them properly. People tend not to take advantage of this because they're afraid that they'll be obligated to continue one the session is over. Signing up for training could be a win/win for both you and the trainer but honestly, the gym would prefer you learn how to use the equipment properly rather than risk you getting injured so they hire trainers to help you learn what to do. Once you're done with the trainer, pick up "Women's Health Big Book of Exercises". It has illustrations on how to use the machines and pre-written workouts to help you achieve your goals.
Good Luck;
Terri
Type 2 and Fit!
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