How to start cadio workouts for a beginner?

askyourfitnessquestion
askyourfitnessquestion Posts: 15 Member
edited December 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello! I'm planning to lose some kilos and increase my endurance. Please, suggest effective cardio exercises for a beginner.

Replies

  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    Depends on your current fitness level. It might be as simple as a brisk walk.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    Depends on your current fitness level. It might be as simple as a brisk walk.

    agreed.
  • leiflung
    leiflung Posts: 83 Member
    edited January 2019
    There isn't really one good cardio for a beginner. Pick the cardio you want to do then do it in intervals. Check the couch to 5k for an idea of what intervals are like. You can do this with any cardio, though. You just go as long as you can, take a break, then go again. Do it for about 30 min. It's that simple. It's really effective.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I started with a 25-minute daily walk and, on days when weather/short daylight hours/other commitments wouldn't allow it, 25 minutes on the Gazelle Edge glider in my basement. (It's not a fantastic machine, but it's better than nothing). That was in October 2016. Now, I shoot for at least 2 hours of walking, though anything over 90 minutes is "good enough" or 80 minutes on the glider. Last summer, I trained for my first 5K. Still prefer walking, though I wouldn't mind training for another one to challenge my finish time.

    Should also add that although I don't often do them, my strength-training book has some 15-minute weights-and-cardio routines and I will occasionally do a couple of those (the first one states that it can be done on its own or as a warmup for the others) if it's not a lifting day and I just feel like I want to do something anyhow.

  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    h7463 wrote: »
    If there is an animal shelter in your area, sign up as volunteer and grab a furry friend for walking or jogging! They need to get out and will thank you! Wagging tails are motivating!

    I like this idea!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    What is your current level of fitness? Many people, including myself just started out walking and getting the body used to moving more and advance from there. If you're not very fit and not used to moving, you don't want to really go from nothing to crazy town overnight.
  • h7463
    h7463 Posts: 626 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    h7463 wrote: »
    If there is an animal shelter in your area, sign up as volunteer and grab a furry friend for walking or jogging! They need to get out and will thank you! Wagging tails are motivating!

    I like this idea!

    The shelter in my area is 'no kill', and the longterm residents really benefit from those walks. There is an awesome crowd of dedicated volunteers up there, and they recently transformed the property next to the place to a public dog trail. A place like that is packed with motivation and reasons to get off the couch... B)
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    What is your current level of fitness? Many people, including myself just started out walking and getting the body used to moving more and advance from there. If you're not very fit and not used to moving, you don't want to really go from nothing to crazy town overnight.

    Agreed.

    I also wanted to say that unless you want to run, there's no need to make that a goal - plenty of ways to get quality cardio without running. I haven't run since I left the military and no one could force me to run anymore :lol:
  • Johnd2000
    Johnd2000 Posts: 198 Member
    Dancing. You can start at whatever pace and duration you want.

    I went from 15mins of ponderous dub reggae, to 90 mins of hardcore techno over the last year. 😂
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    h7463 wrote: »
    If there is an animal shelter in your area, sign up as volunteer and grab a furry friend for walking or jogging! They need to get out and will thank you! Wagging tails are motivating!

    This is how Parsley came to live with me.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    The best thing is the activity that you will do. Zumba, running, battle ropes. We can't choose that for you.
  • Danp
    Danp Posts: 1,561 Member
    The biggest factor is what do you like to do? What do you enjoy?

    There's no point starting a running program if you enjoy swimming or starting to riding a bike if you don't like cycling.

    The best 'cardio' is the activity you enjoy so much that it quickly stops being a 'workout' you have to do and becomes a pastime you look forward to doing. Misery doesn't burn any extra calories and you're more likely to stick with an activity that makes you happy while making you active.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    Pick something that sounds fun and go for it!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    MostlyWater wrote: »
    The best thing is the activity that you will do. Zumba, running, battle ropes. We can't choose that for you.

    This^

    I like walking outside, but won't do it bad weather. So walking style workouts on YouTube (Leslie Sansone or Jessica Smith) make things more excuse proof for me.

    Keep trying new things. Just start
  • askyourfitnessquestion
    askyourfitnessquestion Posts: 15 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    askyourfitnessquestion wrote: »
    Hello! I'm planning to lose some kilos and increase my endurance. Please, suggest effective cardio exercises for a beginner.

    walking, walking and more walking.

    swimming is also good as its non impact.

    if you can already walk at a good pace for 40 minutes then look at C25K

    or pick a class at the gym.. zumba, pole fitness, spin, whatever takes your fancy...

    Thank you! I really enjoy swimming. So planning to start this activity as soon as possible
  • askyourfitnessquestion
    askyourfitnessquestion Posts: 15 Member
    estherdragonbat wrote: »
    I started with a 25-minute daily walk and, on days when weather/short daylight hours/other commitments wouldn't allow it, 25 minutes on the Gazelle Edge glider in my basement. (It's not a fantastic machine, but it's better than nothing). That was in October 2016. Now, I shoot for at least 2 hours of walking, though anything over 90 minutes is "good enough" or 80 minutes on the glider. Last summer, I trained for my first 5K. Still prefer walking, though I wouldn't mind training for another one to challenge my finish time.

    Should also add that although I don't often do them, my strength-training book has some 15-minute weights-and-cardio routines and I will occasionally do a couple of those (the first one states that it can be done on its own or as a warmup for the others) if it's not a lifting day and I just feel like I want to do something anyhow.

    Thanks! Will try going to work on foot
  • askyourfitnessquestion
    askyourfitnessquestion Posts: 15 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    MostlyWater wrote: »
    The best thing is the activity that you will do. Zumba, running, battle ropes. We can't choose that for you.

    This^

    I like walking outside, but won't do it bad weather. So walking style workouts on YouTube (Leslie Sansone or Jessica Smith) make things more excuse proof for me.

    Keep trying new things. Just start

    You motivate me. Thanks!
  • askyourfitnessquestion
    askyourfitnessquestion Posts: 15 Member
    Danp wrote: »
    The biggest factor is what do you like to do? What do you enjoy?

    There's no point starting a running program if you enjoy swimming or starting to riding a bike if you don't like cycling.

    The best 'cardio' is the activity you enjoy so much that it quickly stops being a 'workout' you have to do and becomes a pastime you look forward to doing. Misery doesn't burn any extra calories and you're more likely to stick with an activity that makes you happy while making you active.

    Swimming makes me quite happy!
  • askyourfitnessquestion
    askyourfitnessquestion Posts: 15 Member
    h7463 wrote: »
    If there is an animal shelter in your area, sign up as volunteer and grab a furry friend for walking or jogging! They need to get out and will thank you! Wagging tails are motivating!

    That's quite inspiring! Thank you!
  • bespatter
    bespatter Posts: 73 Member
    I started with 15 minutes on the elliptical, about 3 days a week. Over time (I'm talking like, over a year), I increased it to 5x a week, and to 45-60 minutes. I just got on the elliptical, cranked up motivational music, and went to town.

    Now that I don't really have a whole hour to do cardio, I still try and do 45 minutes 3 days a week or so. I've been within 5 lbs for the last 5 years, lol, so I suppose it works. I've worked out consistently for years now because it's such a big part in how I relieve stress. The main thing is to find something you like (yoga at a studio, pilates videos on YouTube, walks around the neighborhood, etc) and are willing to set aside time to do. It's also important to remember that 15 minutes is better than 0 minutes, and sometimes, once you just get moving you find the motivation to continue.
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