For some, the hardest part of working out is the strenuous activity. But for others, working out is arduous because of the monotony and the repetition. If you suffer from boredom at the gym, it's time to get involved in the wild world of cardiovascular activity, or cardio for short. Good cardio workouts can help you get a lean body.
Treadmill Workout
A great way to begin your cardio experience is with a run on the treadmill. But sticking to one speed produces the same monotony of other exercises. Instead, Aundrea Hasselbach, founder of tread20.com and contributor to Fitness magazine, devised a fat-burning workout to keep your body guessing. Begin with a three-minute jog at 3 miles per hour with an incline of 1. Then, increase your speed by 1 mile per hour every two minutes while increasing your incline by 2 every 30 seconds. After two minutes, scale your speed back to 3 mph and your incline back to 1 and repeat the set.
The Stationary Bike
If you get bored while running, then staying energized while sitting will be no easy feat. But through tempo variation, it is possible on the stationary bike. Personal trainer Orest Ludwig shared a biking rhythm with Fitness magazine that may cure your biking blues. For 12 minutes, keep an rpm of 80 but increase the resistance by 1 every four minutes. Keep it between 90 and 95 rpm for the next 15 minutes while alternating between a resistance level of 6 and 8 every two minutes. Pedal at 100 rpm for five minutes with the alternating resistance levels before cycling at 80 rpm for the final 10 minutes. If this is too grueling, you can cut each time period in half.
The Stair Stepper
This machine doesn't have the rapid movement of the stationary bike or treadmill, but it is a punisher nonetheless. Jill Aucoin, Colorado fitness instructor, created a workout that can prove it. Ascend the stair stepper and enter a workout time of 35 minutes. Begin with a resistance level of 4 for a five minutes and increase the resistance level by 1 every five minutes afterward. When you reach the 15-minute mark, increase the resistance level by 2 and exercise for 10 minutes. Begin your cool-down period by decreasing your resistance level by 1 every five minutes until time expires. In just 35 minutes, Fitness magazine projects that you will burn 273 calories.
Walking
If you only got exercise at the gym, you'd have to live there to not be in dreadful shape. Keep your health at an optimal level by implementing a daily walking regimen. First and foremost, you will need a pedometer to wear when you are active during the day. AARP columnist Martina Navratilova recommends walking 20 minutes three times a week and eventually increasing the routine to 30 minutes. Shoot for 10,000 steps in a day with long, smooth strides and elbows bent at 90 degrees. It will be a small step that makes a big difference around the waistline.
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