Let's face it. When it comes to working out and getting in shape, most of us hit the gym for the treadmill or elliptical trainer to get that sweat-inducing workout that promises to burn mega calories.
As exhilarating as these workouts are, the reality is most of us also adapt to the cardio routine within a few short weeks, which means the effects will diminish over time and it gets harder and harder to burn more calories in less time. If your goal is to get in shape or lose weight, you'll need a strategy to get out of "cardio crazy" mode.
Signs that you're going cardio crazy include:
- Spending more than one hour on the cardio machines during each workout session
- Dreading your trip to the gym each day because the cardio workouts aren't fun anymore
- Obsessing about how many calories you've burned with each step on the stair stepper and every round of spinning classes
The best way to get out of a cardio rut is to add resistance training, weight lifting and different types of aerobic exercises into the weekly routine.
You can:
Hit the outdoors for a change of scenery and get started on a trail running program. Just strap on some super-grip running shoes and head off to the nearest state park or nature trail for a running route with resistance.
Take a deep breath and hit the yoga circuit. Pick up some comfy yoga capri pants and try Bikram yoga, which is guaranteed to make you sweat away your cares, or head outdoors for a sunrise yoga session to embrace the day. If you've been hitting the cardio machines a little too much lately, yoga can help bring your body into balance and give you a much needed stretch session.
Dive into swimming and water aerobics. Pick up a swimsuit and hit the diving board for a change of pace. Swimming is a great aerobic workout and burns several hundred calories per hour. You can also start training a number of core muscle groups with lap swimming or water aerobics. Pool routines will give your body a much-needed break from the usual cardio circuit.
