Running is arguably the simplest form of cardio, but sometimes it’s impossible to do. You’re knees hurt, it’s snowing or raining, you don’t have the time, running sucks. Whatever. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get in a good cardio workout without pounding the city streets. Here are some alternatives.
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1. Best forms of cardio that are not running
Running is arguably the simplest form of cardio, but sometimes it’s
impossible to do. You’re knees hurt, it’s snowing or raining, you don’t
have the time, running sucks. Whatever. Fortunately, there are
plenty of ways to get in a good cardio workout without pounding the
city streets. Here are some alternatives.
2. HIIT – High intensity interval training is a fantastic way
to get in a good cardio session, burn a ton of calories,
and do so in a short amount of time. This is also a good
way to get in some resistance training, as HIIT often
includes bodyweight exercises like pushups and
squats.
Kettlebells – Unsurprisingly to anybody who has used
them, kettlebells are fantastic for getting your heart
rate up and keeping it up. Use a light bell and do a lot
of reps, and pretty quickly you’ll be sweating like you’ve
run a 10k. Grab a heavier one and you’ll get in a good
strength/power workout.
Swimming – Swimming is fantastic way to get in some
low-impact cardio. Because there is no resistance
against your joints, this is a particularly good option
for people who are injured. It also works your arms
and back more than your legs, which is good for those
that want to tone up but don’t like to lift.
Cycling – cycling has the benefit of being easy to do
indoors. Hop on a stationary cycle and go to town, but
make sure to increase the resistance of the machine.
Otherwise you will just be spinning your wheels
(literally) and it won’t be much of a workout. It’s also a
good way to get outside and see the sights, especially in
a bicycle-friendly city like Portland.
3. Elliptical – this is another machine that is popular with
people who have injuries. It is low impact and a great
way to get your heart rate through the roof, but, as
with indoor cycling, be sure to select a pre-programmed
workout or up the resistance of the machine. Doing an
elliptical with no resistance won’t give you much
benefit.
Row – lots of gyms have rowing machines, which is
fantastic, because it’s a solid way to increase heart rate
using a full-body motion. Incidentally, it is also a good
way to warm up before doing a weightlifting session, as
it hits legs, arms and back while getting your heart rate
up.
Walk – walking is actually a great way to increase heart
rate and burn some calories. While it isn’t as
strenuous as running is, it is easier on the joints and
can provide some of the same benefits as running. Half
an hour of moderate intensity walking is usually a
decent alternative to other cardiovascular exercises.
Cardio is an important aspect of fitness, but sometimes can be
difficult to do. Running is challenging, occasionally
inconvenient, and can be hard on your body, but you can still
get in a great cardio session without setting foot on a
treadmill.
4. Kisar Dhillon – A Personal Fitness Trainer in
Portland, Oregon. Need to get toned, lose
weight, lose body fat, and increase lean
muscle. If you need fitness trainer in
Portland, then Kisar is the one. He is a
personal trainer Portland OR with 25 years of
experience and has expertise in health &
fitness industry. Visit for more info:
http://kisardhillon.com/