Here’s What to Know if You’re Starting Cardio

Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash

It’s always the right time to start your fitness journey. When most people start working out for the first time, they turn to cardio like running, walking, the elliptical, cycling, or HIIT workouts. Like anything new, the hardest part is getting started. If you’re new to working out, these tips will help make the transition to getting fit easier.

Start Slow

Start slow and listen to your body. Over time you can challenge yourself, but if you go too hard too quickly, it can be overwhelming and make you want to give up before you give exercise a try. It can also lead to injury, so it’s never a bad idea to hire a personal trainer to help show you how to do exercises and how to use equipment.

Warm Up and Cool Down

One of the biggest mistakes that those who exercise make is they don’t properly warm up or cool down. Warm-ups should include dynamic stretching and some light cardio and cool-downs should have static stretching. Stretching relieves muscle tension and improves range of motion and flexibility.

Make a Schedule

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans says that healthy adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise a week. The activity should be spread throughout the week with a couple of rest days in between.

Stick to It

It’s easy to give up when things get challenging, but try and remember your motivation for starting cardio and use it to make exercise a part of your lifestyle.

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