Cardio alternatives anyone?
_LilPowerHouse
Posts: 365 Member
Iv'e decided that I need to change up my cardio routine.Been doing the elliptical and my calf muscles are freakishly HUGE.. although my wife likes it, it's not the results that im looking for. I need to loose weight first then I will work on the muscles.. any suggestions for cardio that Is not hard on the legs, I need something that will not aggravate the pain that is already in my leg. I tried my wifes zumba dance cd and being a latino, i found it quite fun, but that will not suffice..oh and I hate running..The last time I ran I had to have my daughter come pick me up because my leg was in severe pain (quite embarrassing)..
0
Replies
-
All I can think (given the restrictions) of are walking, cycling or rowing.0
-
You could try exercise DVD's that include strength and cardio intervals? All the Jillian Micheals DVD's I have done are set up in a circuit training type way with a great variety of cardio moves that you only do for 30 seconds to a minute at a time before you change to the next move!0
-
I would just reduce the resistance and go fo mileage on the elliptical assuming you have the resistance set high.0
-
I would just reduce the resistance and go fo mileage on the elliptical assuming you have the resistance set high.
yes, the resistance is high.. I will try that tonight, thanks.0 -
All I can think (given the restrictions) of are walking, cycling or rowing.
I have a 350 acre lake in my back yard, and rowing was something I was going to pick up this summer.. cycling is something i can do indoors, I have one of those gyms that only provide cycling machines around the corner for me, Will look into it.. thanks.0 -
If you have access to a pool, try swimming. It's zero impact, so it's very gentle, yet it's a wonderful workout.0
-
You could try exercise DVD's that include strength and cardio intervals? All the Jillian Micheals DVD's I have done are set up in a circuit training type way with a great variety of cardio moves that you only do for 30 seconds to a minute at a time before you change to the next move!
Im all into doing my workout in intervals, its the only way I can complete them without lots of pain. Ive been reading about Jullian Micheals DVD's but not sure on how the workouts are broken up into, but now that i'm thinking about it, it doesnt really matter does it? It is a dvd and I can certainly pause it whenever I need to..LOL. thanks for the suggestions.0 -
If you have access to a pool, try swimming. It's zero impact, so it's very gentle, yet it's a wonderful workout.
I have never thought of Swimming!! Zero impact would be great for me.. this is a fantastic idea, Cant believe i didnt think
about it.. thanks a bunch..0 -
You could try exercise DVD's that include strength and cardio intervals? All the Jillian Micheals DVD's I have done are set up in a circuit training type way with a great variety of cardio moves that you only do for 30 seconds to a minute at a time before you change to the next move!
Im all into doing my workout in intervals, its the only way I can complete them without lots of pain. Ive been reading about Jullian Micheals DVD's but not sure on how the workouts are broken up into, but now that i'm thinking about it, it doesnt really matter does it? It is a dvd and I can certainly pause it whenever I need to..LOL. thanks for the suggestions.
She tends to like to do 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs then repeat0 -
Any type of weight training will burn more calories than cardio!! That and body weight exercises would help a lot!! I mix it up a lot and doing the weight lifting will assist!!!0
-
How about boxing?0
-
P90X!!!0
-
Yeah, P90X and Insanity.... I now have a resting HR of about 45-50bpm, and I work it up to about 145-155 (85-90%) for 45-60 minutes a day... this also burns a ton of calories too.... Give it a shot, even just try one or two on youtube before you buy them.0
-
I would try cycling and lifting lite weights. The weights are fantastic for burning calories and speeding up the
system. Just lift for tone and not size. Cycling is a great place to burn 600 calories in an hour.0 -
Any type of weight training will burn more calories than cardio!! That and body weight exercises would help a lot!! I mix it up a lot and doing the weight lifting will assist!!!
I never knew that.. I have a weight bench and some weights to go with it so I have easy access to weight lifting, I just have to clean out the garage area that its in. This may be a silly question but I just don't know too much about weight training, What are "body weight excercises?"..0 -
Plyometrics - or jump training - There is a DVD of P90x that is 60 minutes of this, all cardio and an awesome workout that gets your HR pumping...0
-
Lift heavy weights. Why wait on conditioning the muscle? Not to mention you'll burn more fat. Add boxing in and you get a great workout.Iv'e decided that I need to change up my cardio routine.Been doing the elliptical and my calf muscles are freakishly HUGE.. although my wife likes it, it's not the results that im looking for. I need to loose weight first then I will work on the muscles.. any suggestions for cardio that Is not hard on the legs, I need something that will not aggravate the pain that is already in my leg. I tried my wifes zumba dance cd and being a latino, i found it quite fun, but that will not suffice..oh and I hate running..The last time I ran I had to have my daughter come pick me up because my leg was in severe pain (quite embarrassing)..
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Any type of weight training will burn more calories than cardio!! That and body weight exercises would help a lot!! I mix it up a lot and doing the weight lifting will assist!!!
I never knew that.. I have a weight bench and some weights to go with it so I have easy access to weight lifting, I just have to clean out the garage area that its in. This may be a silly question but I just don't know too much about weight training, What are "body weight excercises?"..
Body weight exercises are any exercises where you just use your body for weight....push-ups, pull-ups, squats, etc....check out www.bodybuilding.com for some great ideas or Men's Health website. Yes weight training burns more calories but cardio is great for your health/heart plus if you do high intensity that burns more....you should look into kettlebells for a hell of a WO!!! 20-30mins and you are DONE!!! Love them!!!0 -
I think the above suggestions are great....P90X or Plyometrics will be too hard on your legs depending on the intensity......Swimming would be awesome as well!!0
-
Boxing.0
-
Incorporate some weight lifting. It fuels the fire, helps you burn more calories, increase metabolism. For other cardio options some good ones are swimming, biking, rowing. Or you could do martial arts or boxing. Or pick up a dvd program like P90x that will incorporate both the strength and cardio components. Good luck!!0
-
Spinning classes are great for cardio. I burn more calories there than in my zumba class or my absolute body conditioning class.0
-
You are getting some great tips... just wanted to add, I really like calves!!!
0 -
Lift heavy weights. Why wait on conditioning the muscle? Not to mention you'll burn more fat. Add boxing in and you get a great workout.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
^^^This^^^0 -
i get my heart rate way up and sweat profusely by playing just dance 3 on the wii. I take the moves to the max and play song after song and its one of the best cardio burns i get, definately higher than the elliptical and ALOT more fun. I tried Zumba a little but didnt really get into it. You feel dumb playing Just Dance 3 for about the first 5 minutes, but you get over it and realise your heart is pumping hard! You do alot of arm movements in it also, and they have a just sweat playlist that makes you work it even harder! Can't suggest it enough. good luck0
-
I love boxing and kickboxing and I also lift weights and do a workout dvd that incorporates cardio/weights all in a circuit.0
-
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and tips, some I didn't know about and others I just didn't think about. I will certainly give them all a try to find the ones that best fit me (and my bum leg).. If you would like to add me please feel free, I value all of your suggestions and appreciate them. I know one thing for sure, I am cleaning the garage this weekend and wiping the dust off my weights.. All of this encouragement has gotten me pumped up..0
-
Juggling, hooping and poi/fire/staff spinning - they're predominantly upper body oriented but when you get better, the legs come in too and elements of dance are incorporated. You end up doing them for like 3 hours at a time because they don't feel like exercise and you're having a blast with your juggling buddies, and you work up quite the sweat. Plus you get a kick *kitten* party trick out of it.0
-
thanks0
-
After a great kickboxing/boxing session at my friends house last night, we went upstairs and did kinect (spell?) from XBox, they had me do track and field, which was running, jumping, hurdles etc. I was sweating and my heartrate was up and it was fun, we were laughing, and an hour later, I had gotten another workout in without even realizing it. Sometimes, just doing something fun too can give you that cardio too.
Good luck!0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.2K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 421 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions