Debunking Myths: Cardio = Only running on treadmill

If you have friends who have been hitting the gym, you would be hearing the word cardio from them very often. However, little do they know that cardio is much more than what they think of it. Many are under the impression that cardio is all about using the treadmill to the fullest and spending maximum time of their work out session on a treadmill. Running on a treadmill is definitely a form of cardio or cardiovascular exercise but not just the only one. People often stick to the treadmill and are under the impression that they are doing enough cardio for the day. Busting this myth, Grand Slam Fitness tells you what exactly cardio is and what all exercises or workout routines fall within it. As far as the equipment that you need to do your cardio is concerned, it is all available right here.

Cardio or cardiovascular exercises are forms of exercise that make you burn fat. This basically means that whatever you do, you end up burning fat through it. To burn fat, you need to have enough body movements that make your heart beat faster which will then lead to the fat burning process to give you the energy you need. So then, cardio would be something that increases your heart rate. If you think of it this way, then any activity that you perform that hikes up your pulse is cardio. If you think running on the treadmill is the only form of cardio, think again.

Agreed that running on the treadmill is one of the best forms of cardio but it is not the only one. Cycling alongside running on the treadmill at your gym will give your cardio session a boost for the day. Sometimes even a brisk walk should do the trick. If you are not a person who is fond of the indoor gyms, then a run through the park and riding a bicycle should do the same. In fact, doing the same outdoors would make you feel better depending on your preferences.

Another best practice that many avoid is taking the stairs. Going up a flight of stairs and back in the number of reps is something that hikes up your heart rate a lot. You will be easily able to observe this when you are taking the stairs instead of the elevator and not all of us will be able to do it without facing a bit of a struggle. Once done, we can literally feel our heart pounding in the chest.

If you are looking to shed some excess weight that you have gained, cardio is the way to go. What happens when you pick cardio over other forms of exercises is that due to the elevated heart rate, a lot of energy is consumed in pumping blood all over your body and when this energy is getting exhausted, your body will break down the fat accumulated and turn it into energy molecules to provide it with energy to keep going. By the end of this process, you end up losing some fat and if you keep it up for a while, then you have got yourself a fat burning machine and you start losing a lot of weight especially from the fat accumulated areas.

Now that you know what cardio is all about, do not just stick to the treadmill. Have a look at what gets it going and alter your workout accordingly.