Cardiovascular exercise (cardio for short) is any type of movement that increases your heart rate and blood circulation throughout your body. It’s an important part of any fitness routine and incredibly beneficial to weight management!

However, you’ve probably heard a lot of people complain about cardio as they lace up their tennis shoes and prepare for a workout. Perhaps you’ve even done this yourself! This is a common reaction, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Thinking about cardio exercise in a new light can help you appreciate movement and its effects on the body. Let’s learn about cardio exercise together.

Cardio Exercise Puts the Body into Motion

Let’s face it: we live in a sedentary world. So much of our time is spent sitting in front of a desk at work, getting to and from different places in our vehicles, sitting on the couch to watch television and sleeping. We can find the answer to almost any question we have by sending a text message, email or browsing the web. Our smartphones also do a lot of work for us. All in all, our busy schedules paired with the convenience of modern living doesn’t make for a lot of physical activity.

On the other hand, our bodies are made to move. How do you feel when you’ve been sitting down all day? Chances are you’re exhausted, tense, sore and probably a little anxious. But how does your body feel after exercise? Most people report feelings of renewed energy, confidence and mind-body awareness. Our bodies are MEANT to do physical work! Cardio helps.

Cardio Exercise: Benefits

Cardio exercise should be a part of your daily/weekly routine. Standard guidelines suggest 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days a week, or vigorous cardio 20 minutes a day, three days a week. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may want to do more cardio exercise (up to 60 to 90 minutes) depending on other lifestyle factors.

When you participate in cardio exercise regularly as part of your lifestyle, you benefit from:

• Weight-loss or weight maintenance, as cardio burns a lot of calories
• Reduces stress, as cardio releases powerful endorphines
• More energy, less exhaustion and less fatigue
• A stronger heart and lungs, as cardio improves circulation
• Increased bone density, as cardio improves bone strength
• Improved mental health, as cardio releases endorphins
• Better sleep, as cardio improves quality and duration
• Reduced risk of heart disease and some types of cancer
• Renewed confidence and motivation

Incorporating Cardio into Your Fitness Routine

You now know just how powerful the effects of cardio exercise really are. Hopefully, this post has given you a new appreciation for cardio so you don’t dread the process! Fitness feeds both the mind and body. We need it!

Are you ready to get started with making cardio an active part of your lifestyle? First, talk to your healthcare provider to examine your health status and determine what types of exercises and intensity you are capable of doing. This is important for safety.

Ready for the next step? CLICK HERE to read about getting started on your fitness journey and bringing cardio movement into your routine. You’ll be surprised at the benefits!