Kicka$$ Beginner Cardio Ideas
I was once someone who HATED cardio. Running in gym class? Absolutely not. Hiking uphill? Hell no. Jogging in public? I’d rather die. Now, I’ve trained my brain to enjoy cardio. Sometimes I even crave it because it’s a good way to balance out my emotions. Cardio is similar to the phrase, “Try something seven times…”. For this, you have to really try it seven times.
I’ve noticed that most of my favorite forms of cardio go under the radar for the most part. So, I’ll start with the most common methods.
All of these methods last about 30 minutes
#1. Incline walking
This one is very popular on social media. It’s popular for a reason. I’d rather walk on a slight incline anyday over running. My only gripe about this is most people are told to start BALLS TO THE WALL. Some of the stuff online isn’t sustainable.
Here’s my recommendation:
-Start at 2.5-3 mph. This is dependent on how long your legs are.
-Pick an incline from 4-8. This is also dependent on how much you walk already. If you don’t walk a whole lot on average, your calves will probably hurt within 10 minutes at an incline of 8.
-Make a playlist of music you love. This will make you associate the exercise with something positive. This also works for TV shows you enjoy.
Just remember, the main goal is moving consistently. Doing 2 weeks of some cardio is more beneficial for your health than going HAM on a treadmill for a few days. Your body will adjust better to slow adaptations.
#2. Elliptical
Love love love this one. This one is for my people with ankles that like to pop out. Also, this is great for people that like to dance. Another plus is that there’s less people using them. Ellipticals reduce impact on knees and ankles compared to treadmills. My favorite part about them is that sometimes the speed isn’t selected for you. Basically, you choose a resistance level (how hard it’s going to be), and then you take off.
This is great because you can have a variety of music playing. You can adjust your speed based on the vibes of the music. I feel like time flies when I do this. To me, it’s way more immersive because I can focus on moving to music compared to just doing cardio.
Here’s my recommendation:
-Start at a resistance of 5. After a full song, make adjustments. Was it really difficult to get through the song? Was it really easy? Do you want to push yourself? Or do you just want to move to a good beat?
-For me, this requires some music that pumps me up. If it makes me want to dance at home, it will make me move on the elliptical. My personal favorites are 80s club music, hair metal, and Kesha.
-When you move on an elliptical, your legs should be going forward like you are running.
-Some people say you shouldn’t use the handles. I DISAGREE! Use those handles! If it makes you feel more stable/comfortable, use it.
These two are for my non-gym goers:
#4. YouTube
There’s tons of great youtubers out there that offer free fitness courses. There’s also old recordings of fitness games. Personally, I enjoy looking up old “Just Dance” videos. I like to shuffle through a few songs. Once again, I recommend setting a timer for 30 minutes. Those 30 minutes are dedicated towards whatever exercise video you find. It can be 1 30 minute exercise video, or 6 5 minute videos.
#5. Music
Start with setting a timer for 30 minutes. Then put on your favorite music and move to the lyrics or the rhythm. Think of it like a dance break from life. It’s also a good way to get out emotions. If you’re pissed? Furious dance break. Want to curl up into a ball and die? Death dance break. Super excited? Jubilant dance break. You get the idea.
There’s no rules to this one. Just move anyway you like. You’re free dude.
