We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Cardio that isn't running
makinemjellis
Posts: 91 Member
I've been lifting weights for about 2 months and am LOVING IT and am looking to add in some cardio to my routine. My gym is pretty limited on equipment; we have 2 treadmills, an elliptical, weights, and hardly any room. Not to mention I absolutely DESPISE running. So if anyone has some fun, non-running cardio that I can do with limited space/equipment, I'd love your suggestions 
Side note: I have problems with my feet that cause them to cramp up really badly when doing exercises that involve a lot of jumping or pounding (jump rope, burpees, mountain climbers, etc). It gets so bad that I won't be able to put pressure on my feet for a few minutes until I've stretched and massaged them out.
Side note: I have problems with my feet that cause them to cramp up really badly when doing exercises that involve a lot of jumping or pounding (jump rope, burpees, mountain climbers, etc). It gets so bad that I won't be able to put pressure on my feet for a few minutes until I've stretched and massaged them out.
3
Replies
-
Look beyond the gym. Go for a walk or a bike ride. Go for a swim or ski or snowshoe. Go dancing. Get some low impact aerobic dvds you can do at home. Take a Zumba class. Check out Leslie Sansome's walking videos.11
-
Kettlebell swings might be up your alley
5 -
I do hike a fair amount when the weather is suitable, but those days have been few and far between recently.
and I always forget about kettlebell swings! I'll definitely have to try to add those in! Thanks!0 -
Play a sport! Tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer, all good cardio activities that make you forget you're doing cardio.4
-
You may want to try Pilates or cycling/spin classes. If your gym does not have aerobic classes you can find almost any aerobic class on Youtube and exercise at home.0
-
I've been lifting weights for about 2 months and am LOVING IT and am looking to add in some cardio to my routine. My gym is pretty limited on equipment; we have 2 treadmills, an elliptical, weights, and hardly any room. Not to mention I absolutely DESPISE running. So if anyone has some fun, non-running cardio that I can do with limited space/equipment, I'd love your suggestions
Side note: I have problems with my feet that cause them to cramp up really badly when doing exercises that involve a lot of jumping or pounding (jump rope, burpees, mountain climbers, etc). It gets so bad that I won't be able to put pressure on my feet for a few minutes until I've stretched and massaged them out.
a. Cycling. Get a bicycle and ride outside.
b. Drink a bit more water to ward off the cramping feet.
0 -
I like to do farmers carries, battle ropes, throw that medicine ball thing at the floor and jump rope. I'm new to cardio. I take a lot of stimulants before I do it and just kind of dance around like an *kitten* hole.8
-
-
I have tried EVERYTHING for the feet.
Try stretching your feet *every hour*. Use a reminder app if you forget to do it hourly. Post an update after 2 weeks.
In the mean time, since your gym has an elliptical, try that.
3 -
I've been lifting weights for about 2 months and am LOVING IT and am looking to add in some cardio to my routine. My gym is pretty limited on equipment; we have 2 treadmills, an elliptical, weights, and hardly any room. Not to mention I absolutely DESPISE running. So if anyone has some fun, non-running cardio that I can do with limited space/equipment, I'd love your suggestions
Side note: I have problems with my feet that cause them to cramp up really badly when doing exercises that involve a lot of jumping or pounding (jump rope, burpees, mountain climbers, etc). It gets so bad that I won't be able to put pressure on my feet for a few minutes until I've stretched and massaged them out.
You've pretty much limited this to the elliptihell.
That said, it depends on what you want to gain from CV work but some suggestions; walking, cycling, rowing, swimming, roller blade or skating, dance...1 -
I have tried EVERYTHING for the feet. Drinking more water, getting special insoles, stretching daily...literally nothing has helped. I have NO idea what the problem is.
I started following my diet to monitor my electrolyte intake, BC I had foot cramps while swimming. I found I had a running potassium deficit --correcting that drastically reduced the cramping incidence. Worked for me.0 -
How about boxing?1
-
does the treadmill incline? crank that sucker up, if so. just don't walk too fast. go to any gym and you'll see a dozen people ruining their backs with terrible incline walking technique1
-
Space isn't limited outdoors.
My preference would be cycling outdoors. Does your cardio really have to be done in this gym? No sports you might enjoy for example? Hills to walk?
Shame your gym doesn't have a bike or a rowing machine, both of which might suit you.
But if you are limited to your gym then it's worth trying the elliptical but beware a lot of people without your foot issues get numbness when using ellipticals.
I can avoid it by unlacing a couple of the top eyelets of my shoes or reversing the direction periodically.
Otherwise fast-paced callisthenics or circuit training can be effective at getting your HR up.0 -
You can also try incline walking. You can reach intensities that approach that of running with little impact1
-
Spin classes are super fun. You may want to try them if they offer them at your gym0
-
kettlebell swings are good.
you could put on fun music and dance around for 10 minutes. I typically do if a good song comes on during a workout anyways, lol.1 -
I like to do farmers carries, battle ropes, throw that medicine ball thing at the floor and jump rope. I'm new to cardio. I take a lot of stimulants before I do it and just kind of dance around like an *kitten* hole.
This, they all get my heart rate up pretty quickly. I do most of it as tabatas when doing a cardio workout1 -
I prefer to be outside rather than on some piece of stationary equipment...I mostly cycle, do some hiking, rock climbing, trampoline park with my kids, walk the dog, etc. When I'm stuck indoors I have an indoor bike trainer that I can attach my road bike to as well as a rowing machine.0
-
@jellis432 My sympathy on your feet issues! I've had several surgeries on one foot and cannot do cardio on hard surfaces. I have a mini-trampoline that I use at home. It's very low impact on the feet and I jog, do jumping jacks, twist, high-knees, all kinds of things on it to get a cardio workout. Some of them even fold up to move out of the way when you're not using it.2
-
I do hike a fair amount when the weather is suitable, but those days have been few and far between recently.
and I always forget about kettlebell swings! I'll definitely have to try to add those in! Thanks!
The Swedish say "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes"... In the past five years, I've walked, hiked, and run in weather that I used to deem inclement... it's just a matter of learning to dress for the weather.
It was really my only option, because I didn't really like going to the gym, but I can honestly say that there have only been a relative handful of days that I thought the weather 'too bad' to be outside (generally when the trails are iced over) and only then do I look to the gym for refuge.
Good luck!0 -
gamerbabe14 wrote: »Play a sport! Tennis, basketball, volleyball, soccer, all good cardio activities that make you forget you're doing cardio.
Those activities/sports involve pounding on hard surface and running; two things that the OP can't do. They are also mostly outdoors, and summer or good weather activities, and the OP seems to live in a cold region.
@jellis432 Ask your doctor for an Xray of your feet and maybe a referral to a podiatrist. Don't let that problem go unattended for too long.1 -
I've been lifting weights for about 2 months and am LOVING IT and am looking to add in some cardio to my routine. My gym is pretty limited on equipment; we have 2 treadmills, an elliptical, weights, and hardly any room. Not to mention I absolutely DESPISE running. So if anyone has some fun, non-running cardio that I can do with limited space/equipment, I'd love your suggestions
Walking has always been my thing. The last year or so I've taken up running but I'm not "good" at it. Not sure I ever will be "good" at it. But, for cardio I tend to do circuit training mixed with walking/running in the warmer months, and in the winter I'll use my Bowflex Max trainer (sort of like an elliptical). So half of my workout is circuit training which is a mix of body weight training and free weights. I do higher reps (around 10-12) with less than 60 seconds rest between exercises. Generally I'll walk/pace/or do whatever I can to keep my heart rate elevated during my rest sessions (which honestly are usually in the 10-15 second range). I go from one muscle group to another to give one group time to rest while I work another. So it goes like 1 set of pushups, 1 set of pull ups, 1 set of dips, then 1 set of squats, 1 set of crunches, 1 set of side crunches, then back to 1 set of pushups, 1 set of pull ups, 1 set of dips. Then after I've gone through 2-3 circuits of body weight training I'll switch to my bench and use free weights for 1 set of flys, 1 set of bench press, 1 set of skull crushers, 1 set of bench press (with weights together instead of apart). Anyway you get the idea. Once i've done at least one set of the free weights decline, I'll go flat, then incline. Once that's done I'll switch to the floor and do core work, crunches, side crunches, planks, pushups, leg lifts, wipers, etc. to finish out the workout. If you keep rest to a minimum you can keep your heart rate elevated and you get the benefit of a good full body workout and cardio. If you don't like running you can try power walking or speed walking. You can burn just about the same calories doing that as you can running, sometimes more because it takes you longer to go the same distances.
4 -
Thanks everyone for your input! There are some great ideas here and I appreciate your responses.
I failed to mention in my original post that I live in an EXTREMELY rural place, so a lot of things I would typically look to do for cardio aren't really an option here. It also has stupid weather and is really freaking cold in the winter and really freaking hot in the summer, so while I get outside when I can, it's nice to have options to do inside for when the weather makes me want to die
you're all beautiful humans and I appreciate you very much.5 -
Jump rope0
-
I failed to mention in my original post that I live in an EXTREMELY rural place, so a lot of things I would typically look to do for cardio aren't really an option here. It also has stupid weather and is really freaking cold in the winter and really freaking hot in the summer, so while I get outside when I can, it's nice to have options to do inside for when the weather makes me want to die
Same here. Rural, not many options. Winters suck, so I'm stuck inside. It's why I bought my machine, it's been worth it to have it for the Winter. Gets used very little in the summer because we have a nice park with a walking path that is about 5 miles long round trip. Good for walking/running/etc. But in the winter.. I'll pass.. I hate the cold. Hard core runners and walkers will be outside in special winter workout gear but not me lol. I'll be inside doing my circuit training looking out the window toasty warm lol.
0 -
@Spliner1969 so glad we're on the same page with that, haha. I work for a NP so in the summer I'm plenty active but the winter leaves me feeling like a potato.0
-
OP: IMO, the best choice in your situation would be rowing.
It can provide you w/a full body workout and as much aerobic effect as you want or are capable of enduring w/o putting undue pressure on your feet.
If you have a open 3x9' area in your house and $945 that you can spare, that's all you'd to buy one and exercise anytime 24/7.
If you don't have that, then look for a gym that has a, rower that you can use. It really is the best choice, given your foot problem.
3 -
I hate cardio but also need to lose weight while I'm building muscle, so I do it. I hate it the least when I do it all in Tabata rounds. I use mostly the elliptical in Tabata but I'll mix it up with (modified) jumping jacks (because I don't jump, or run), lightweight kettlebell swings, step ups, or if I really feel like going for the gusto, crunches/sit ups.0
-
kayak4water wrote: »
I started following my diet to monitor my electrolyte intake, BC I had foot cramps while swimming. I found I had a running potassium deficit --correcting that drastically reduced the cramping incidence. Worked for me.
I was just about to recommend some potassium, and some magnesium. GMTA!0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.5K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 442 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions