Best Cardio Workouts?

writerly
writerly Posts: 20 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Do any of you have a cardio workout that you've lost with and would like to share? I know I must do weights and diet also, and I have my plans for that, but I have NO idea what to do for cardio. I was thinking of mixing Zumba, elliptical, and the treadmill, but I would have no idea what to do for the latter to.

Thanks!

Replies

  • Dogwalkingirl
    Dogwalkingirl Posts: 320 Member
    It depends what you are into. I love my swimming but not everyone is a swimmer.

    I am not a runner but people seem to get addicted and love running. I LOVE bootcamp type classes that combine cardio and strength.

    Skipping? Biking?
  • jillian_fan2425
    jillian_fan2425 Posts: 167 Member
    I would definitely recommend HIIT (high intensity interval training) or circuit training. You can lose pounds and inches in a relatively brief but hardcore workout session. Jillian Michaels, as well as many others, have many DVDs that can provide a wide variety of interesting and intense workouts. For me, it's nice to get it done and know I worked hard rather than just jog aimlessly on the treadmill for hours when I could be working on other things.
  • TiberiusClaudis
    TiberiusClaudis Posts: 423 Member
    I lost my first 60 lbs merely by walking the dog..honest. Had the fittest dog in town by the end.

    Now, I do Zumba 4 nights a week for cardio...wife is an instructor. Not only is it fun, but it's really good workout. I average between 660-800 calories an hr.

    Still do weights 6 days a week too...but Zumba is awesome for cardio.
  • theflatpick
    theflatpick Posts: 106 Member
    When I really need to kick the cardio up to drops some lbs, I either do the stairmaster machine that looks kind of like an escalator where the stairs just keep coming, or I do a spin class. Both of those make me sweat like crazy, and I can get results on the scales. The elliptical is more of a cool down machine for me, just can't get much out of it. The treadmill is good for me if I run on it. Obviously, this is just me and others may get all kinds of different results.
    Good luck! Getting there and starting is the toughest part!
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    I dance, lift, cycle, hike, SUP, and my favorite is dance.

    Do you west coast swing? so fun.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r22UpXhLe-4#t=13

    check out local dance studios and meetup to learn.

    or try salsa, lindy, balboa, tango. so much to choose from.

    dance all night long, you burn crazy calories and have fun too.

    more fun videos:

    60s music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k00VEfSbpU0

    Contemporary music (and my favorite pro, Ben Morris, dancing with a really really good "novice":
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ZMUNbhn8o

    blessings.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    Gosh, I hate cardio! When I lost my first 30, I rarely did more than walk around town. Just kept my diet dialed in, and it was enough.

    Now for the last stubborn 10, I'm adding in some HIIT, and some steady state cardio for a larger deficit. I'll typically do hill sprints for the "rip-the-bandaid" approach or some time wading through molasses on the elliptical machine at a high resistance.

    **Edit this is in addition to lifting heavy 3x a week.
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I've lost with a lot of different things, but I also lose when I eat at a deficit. Do what you like, that's the best workout. I have my calories set on the high side, so my workouts are basically my deficit.
  • writerly
    writerly Posts: 20 Member
    Wow! Thank you guys. I may start using my gym's DVD's for HIIT and use the elliptical as a cool down, and zumba to cross train. Incredibly helpful! THANK YOU.
  • LifeJacketWaterJogger
    LifeJacketWaterJogger Posts: 231 Member
    I love jillian michael kickboxing workout, jessica smith has lots of great cardio workouts from beginner to advanced all free on you tube, leslie sansone has some great high intensity walking videos all on you tube..fitness blender has some great ones, go on you tube you can find any kind of cardio you need. all free, all of jillians workouts are there.
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    When I really need to kick the cardio up to drops some lbs, I either do the stairmaster machine that looks kind of like an escalator where the stairs just keep coming, or I do a spin class. Both of those make me sweat like crazy, and I can get results on the scales. The elliptical is more of a cool down machine for me, just can't get much out of it. The treadmill is good for me if I run on it. Obviously, this is just me and others may get all kinds of different results.
    Good luck! Getting there and starting is the toughest part!

    +1

    Also, hiking/ anything outside
  • codycsweet
    codycsweet Posts: 1,019 Member
    I do 2-3 days of Zumba and then started lifting 3 days a week. I also have a fitbit just to keep me motivated to move throughout the day.

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