Types of Cardio Exercise

One of the ways to lose those unwanted pounds and to get in shape is to have a good cardiovascular exercise routine. When we do cardio exercise, we increase our intake of oxygen which helps burning the fats. When we are working at the correct intensity level we will also be able to gain muscle strength and stamina. The nature of the cardio routine is so simple that people of all ages, shapes, and sizes can do it quite easily. The intensity or the heart rate is very important while doing such kind of exercises, because, if you workout at low intensity where your heart rate stays normal you will not get results. 'More is better', is not the case when it comes to cardio training, because exhaustion and fatigue can lead to over work of muscles and injury. It is important that you do the right exercises at the right intensity level to reap all the cardio exercise benefits.

Cardio exercise elevate your heart rate and keep it in the same way for extended period of time. This results in increased consumption of oxygen, which leads to fat loss. One of the most important factors is the heart rate you have to maintain while doing cardio exercises. According to the American college of sports medicine, the easiest way to calculate heart rate is to minus your age from 220. For example, if your age is 30 you minus that from 220 and you will have 190, this is the heart rate you need to maintain when you do cardiovascular exercises for optimum results. These exercises can be categorized into two parts indoor and outdoor cardio exercises.

Indoor Cardio Exercises

• Treadmill: One of the ways to work out your entire body is having a go on the treadmill. This comes under weight bearing exercises because the body's weight is supported by the legs and waist. It is important to do a 30 - 40 minutes run on a treadmill to get optimum benefits.
• Elliptical: This is also a weight bearing exercise and you need to maintain good posture while doing this exercise to avoid injury. The elliptical is one of the best cardio exercise to tone legs and gain lower body strength.
• Stair Stepper: This machine imitates the motion of the body when we climb the stairs and is a good way to get your body in shape. It is important that you get accustomed to the range of motion, before you increase the intensity on this machine. The stair stepper workout will help you shed the body fat and tone your buttocks and legs.
• Stationary Bike: It is one of the best cardio exercise to lose weight, it is also a non weight bearing exercise as the weight of the body is supported by the machine. It is a good exercise for people with joint pains and for those who find it difficult to work out at high intensity levels.

Outdoor Cardio Exercises

• Hiking: For all the people who love the outdoors, hiking is one of the best cardio exercises to lose belly fat. You will get a full body workout and the different terrains will also help keep your workout interesting. Just be careful and avoid injury, because the chances of slipping and falling are greater than indoor workouts.
• Jogging: One of the most popular forms of cardio exercises, jogging is a great way to get in shape and lose some weight. It will help your motivation levels if you have a jogging partner and if you keep changing your jogging route.
• Swimming: It is a non weight bearing exercise and people with obesity can also include it in their workout regimen. The water supports the body weight and makes it easier on the joints, also the different strokes that you could use while swimming can help keep redundancy away.
• Sports: Playing sports like basketball and soccer in which you will have to move around a lot is also a great way to get a cardiovascular workout. Playing a sport will also help you in building your strength and stamina. Boredom is one of the major reasons behind people quitting their routines, hopefully you will be able to counter that by playing a team sport.

One of the cardio exercises at home routine is the skipping rope, just make sure that you do not have any knee problems before starting. Cardio exercises will assist you in achieving your health targets if you also follow a healthy diet plan. Another important thing is to consult your physician before starting any exercise or diet routine.