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Best Cardio?
Blahjaz
Posts: 12 Member
Hey there!
Just wondering what everyone personally thinks is the most effective cardio. I have been doing elliptical, and it has been giving me the results I want so far (it's only been a week), but I keep hearing people say things along the lines of "The elliptical is a lot of momentum, you should just run if you want to lose weight, it's not actually helping you much" etc.
Even though this seems to be working, is there something out there that's much better and still enjoyable? I really like doing the elliptical because it makes me very tired/gets my heart rate pretty high without absolutely destroying me (I have no stamina, haha), and doesn't hurt my knees, but I'm wondering if what I'm doing just isn't enough?
What are your personal favorite forms of cardio?
Just wondering what everyone personally thinks is the most effective cardio. I have been doing elliptical, and it has been giving me the results I want so far (it's only been a week), but I keep hearing people say things along the lines of "The elliptical is a lot of momentum, you should just run if you want to lose weight, it's not actually helping you much" etc.
Even though this seems to be working, is there something out there that's much better and still enjoyable? I really like doing the elliptical because it makes me very tired/gets my heart rate pretty high without absolutely destroying me (I have no stamina, haha), and doesn't hurt my knees, but I'm wondering if what I'm doing just isn't enough?
What are your personal favorite forms of cardio?
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Replies
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"Most effective" is pretty subjective!
My favourite form of cardio is running, running outside not on a dreadmill followed very closely by cycling and in a very close 3rd place rowing.
The truth is the best exercise (or most effective) is the one you enjoy and are going to keep at, potentially for the rest of your life. Try a variety of activities and don't forget to include some strength training.The benefits of fitness only increase as we age.0 -
The truth is the best exercise (or most effective) is the one you enjoy and are going to keep at, potentially for the rest of your life. Try a variety of activities and don't forget to include some strength training.The benefits of fitness only increase as we age.
Agree. My cardio comes mostly from elliptical machines and running. I look for a machine that works my legs and arms together and I build up my endurance through increasing the tension and also increasing my own pace. Look at all adjustments of the machines, many allow you to increase your leg stride and tilt. Experiment with increasing the tension or level of the machine, try a HITT routine while on the machine before you move on to something else after only a week.0 -
The most effective cardio for me is HIIT. I like my cardio once a week in a wham-bam-thank-you-maam, kind of way. I will never get on an elliptical because I hate it. Finding something you enjoy and will keep up with is most of the battle. If you like the elliptical, then continue on.
Just out of curiosity, what results has it given you in a week?0 -
intercourse, obviously.0
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"Best Cardio" is subjective, and it depends on what you want the cardio to do for you. It seems you are asking more in terms of weight loss than cardiovascular health or endurance, in which case the best cardio is the one you are going to do and works for you. I have knee issues as well, so there is some cardio that I just can't do for very long because it hurts, and that's counterproductive if I am trying to burn more calories.
If the elliptical works for you, use it. You don't just have to go at the same steady pace for the entire workout, you can change it up up by doing changes to the speed and intensity of the workout. HIIT is supposed to have some great fat burning effects, especially post workout, and you could do a HIIT routine on the elliptical for the same amount of time you use the elliptical now, although it will kick your butt. Do a search on the message boards for HIIT, there are a bunch of threads about it, or maybe someone else who is more knowledgeable will jump in and explain it. I'm not the person to do that having no firsthand experience myself.0 -
Any type of cardio is good, but some are easier on the body than others. I even heard that walking (for more than 30 minutes) is "effective" as well.0
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I enjoy running... but I think High Intensity Interval Training is probably the most effective. High, Low, High, Low. That's how I complete my runs as well to get the most bang for my buck. I have a few DVD's I do at home including my fav Gold's Gym Sculpt and Burn that has several 10min sections that are based on intervals (high, low). 30 Day Shred is also structured that way.0
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Numerous ways of cardio, but there really is no "best way" for cardio. It is mainly your preferance. Some say HIIT is better, some say running is better. There really is no scientific evidence that shows one is superior to the other. Do what you feel is best and like the most:)0
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What ever your body can tolerate.
I swim. Love it, in part, because I don't feel myself sweating0 -
intercourse, obviously.
This.
If that's not an option, mountain biking. Very few other cardio activities will give you a full body workout like mountain biking. Very, very few are as fun!0 -
Depends on your intended results. Aerobic, anarobic??? I do some muay thai every now and again and both are important. If you are only slightly active maybe you don't care about creating ATP efficiently enough to operate without O2 for 30-60 seconds. So depends what you are trying to do.0
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intercourse, obviously.
This.
If that's not an option, mountain biking. Very few other cardio activities will give you a full body workout like mountain biking. Very, very few are as fun!0 -
The best cardio is the one you enjoy.0
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The most effective cardio for me is HIIT. I like my cardio once a week in a wham-bam-thank-you-maam, kind of way. I will never get on an elliptical because I hate it. Finding something you enjoy and will keep up with is most of the battle. If you like the elliptical, then continue on.
Just out of curiosity, what results has it given you in a week?
+1. HIIT twice a week0 -
Agree with the folks who have suggested HIIT (high intensity interval training). This is a technique you can use with any form of cardio, and if you start working intervals into your routines and work to make them longer and/or more intense, you'll really see a difference in your stamina and maybe even strength, body composition, and weight.
I do a lot of elliptical--I don't think there's any shame in that vs. running--and mix in a fair amount of HIIT. I also row (again with HIIT), and for strength do kettlebell training--which also has some segments of intervals that provide cardio work as well.
As others have advised, do what you most enjoy since that'll help you to keep working out, but don't just log x number of minutes at the same resistance for weeks on end. Push yourself to work harder each week. Good luck!0 -
Depends on your intended results. Aerobic, anarobic??? I do some muay thai every now and again and both are important. If you are only slightly active maybe you don't care about creating ATP efficiently enough to operate without O2 for 30-60 seconds. So depends what you are trying to do.0
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The best cardio is the one that you are going to do.0
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Cycling....no question......for me0
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Depends on your intended results. Aerobic, anarobic??? I do some muay thai every now and again and both are important. If you are only slightly active maybe you don't care about creating ATP efficiently enough to operate without O2 for 30-60 seconds. So depends what you are trying to do.
I would consider myself pretty active and even then I don't care about creating ATP efficiently enough to operate without O2 for 30-60 secs. Even worse, I don't even know what the heck ATP is!0 -
intercourse, obviously.
Does the HIIT method work with intercourse?0
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