Indoor cardio?

NotJustADieter
NotJustADieter Posts: 229 Member
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
I have bad asthma and outdoor cardio is becoming something I can't really do as it gets colder. I lift usually and am not really a "cardio girl", but my cardiovascular health is sort of crap and with these last stubborn 15lbs, I know I need to get into it.

Here's the issue. I'm having a hard time finding a cardio I can enjoy. Thinking of getting into kickboxing, but I have PTSD and rage issues and am afraid that I'll hurt myself by going too hard. I do spin at school, but I don't know if I want to continue it at home. So... thoughts?

Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Have you thought about rowing? Great full-body workout the combines outstanding cardio with some level of strength.

    The downside is that a decent erg is not cheap. The gold standard are the Concept2 models.
  • NotJustADieter
    NotJustADieter Posts: 229 Member
    That's the issue right there- I'm a college student, so I have no room and no money.
  • hannahrichins
    hannahrichins Posts: 26
    I do all of my workouts inside at home! I recently lost 30 pounds with my computer and a pair of dumbbells! All of the workouts I do are free and on youtube! I have asthma as well and have the exact same problem with cold air.
  • sheepotato
    sheepotato Posts: 600 Member
    NotJustADieter wrote: »
    That's the issue right there- I'm a college student, so I have no room and no money.

    There are a lot of exercise videos on youtube, most of them don't require very much exercise space.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Dance videos. YouTube cardio videos. Swimming. Treadmill. Rower. Zumba. Basketball. Indoor soccer. The possibilities really are endless. Anything that gets your heart rate up will help you out :)
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    edited December 2014
    Youtube: Tone It Up, Autumn Calabrese, BeFit, Blogilates, BodyFit by Amy, BodyRock, FitnessBlender, GymRa, Sarah Grace, Shaun T, Charlene Johnson, XHIT Daily, and ZukaLight.

    Those are just a few. Majority of them have 20-30 minute workouts for you to follow. You will have to invest in a few things, like a few dumbells or resistance bands, maybe a yoga mat, and some good cross trainer shoes, but that's about it.

    edited to remove a Youtuber.
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    Does your college have a fitness center? Many of them do and they're free to the students. Some apartment complexes do as well. Otherwise, without a gym or equipment, there's jumping rope, step, jumping jacks, hulla hoop, workout videos, running in place... What do you normally do outside?
  • NotJustADieter
    NotJustADieter Posts: 229 Member
    I have a gym in my neighborhood (I live at home), a YMCA membership for free because I work at it and a college gym.

    Outside, I usually run and swim. But now it is cold.
  • mochapygmy
    mochapygmy Posts: 2,123 Member
    If kickboxing interests you consider a martial art. I'm not sure what kind of cost is involved but there is usually a lot of discipline involved so the PTSD and rage issues may not be a problem.

    Personally I like running inside and spin.
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    If you have a YMCA membership and work there, have you tried the range of machines? The Y's with which I'm familiar have Concept2 rowing ergs, various stationary bikes, ellipticals, treadmills, etc. And they usually have a track, and often a pool. Is your Y different? Running indoors is more boring than outdoors, but there are ways to make it more engaging, like fartlek, or structured intervals.

    Another possibility, if you get bored with indoor cardio, is circuit training. For that matter, you could do a cardio circuit: 10 minutes cycling, 10 minutes rowing, 10 minutes running. Or if there's a pool, do your own sprint triathlon: swim 10-15 minutes, then cycle, and finally run.
  • NotJustADieter
    NotJustADieter Posts: 229 Member
    I've done martial arts as well- the issue is that sometimes I strike without concern for my own safety.

    My Y doesn't have a track, and our machines aren't well kept up. I've tried classes though.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    Try spin classes or kettlebell classes. If you do kettlebell classes make sure you find one that is RKC or SFG certified.
  • jchenks
    jchenks Posts: 164 Member
    NotJustADieter wrote: »
    That's the issue right there- I'm a college student, so I have no room and no money.

    Hey! I do indoor workouts with a work friend and we find lots of things on Youtube. It is even things with out equipment. You'll find burpees after several minutes are not your friend but they do a body and lunges good :)

  • jchenks
    jchenks Posts: 164 Member
    jdhcm2006 wrote: »
    Youtube: Tone It Up, Autumn Calabrese, BeFit, Blogilates, BodyFit by Amy, BodyRock, FitnessBlender, GymRa, Sarah Grace, Shaun T, Charlene Johnson, XHIT Daily, and ZukaLight.

    Those are just a few. Majority of them have 20-30 minute workouts for you to follow. You will have to invest in a few things, like a few dumbells or resistance bands, maybe a yoga mat, and some good cross trainer shoes, but that's about it.

    edited to remove a Youtuber.
    jdhcm2006 wrote: »
    Youtube: Tone It Up, Autumn Calabrese, BeFit, Blogilates, BodyFit by Amy, BodyRock, FitnessBlender, GymRa, Sarah Grace, Shaun T, Charlene Johnson, XHIT Daily, and ZukaLight.

    Those are just a few. Majority of them have 20-30 minute workouts for you to follow. You will have to invest in a few things, like a few dumbells or resistance bands, maybe a yoga mat, and some good cross trainer shoes, but that's about it.

    edited to remove a Youtuber.
    jdhcm2006 wrote: »
    Youtube: Tone It Up, Autumn Calabrese, BeFit, Blogilates, BodyFit by Amy, BodyRock, FitnessBlender, GymRa, Sarah Grace, Shaun T, Charlene Johnson, XHIT Daily, and ZukaLight.

    Those are just a few. Majority of them have 20-30 minute workouts for you to follow. You will have to invest in a few things, like a few dumbells or resistance bands, maybe a yoga mat, and some good cross trainer shoes, but that's about it.

    edited to remove a Youtuber.

    This exactly! We just finished a Fitnessblender video and found it to be great!

  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    best way to do it! ALL FREE!,, so so many online.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    If you're rage-y you might like HIIT training, it is *really* exhausting in that way that can trigger good stress release. FitnessBlender on youtube has some HIIT videos, and I'm sure browsing the other links posted will turn up some more.
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