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To many,
that
half-hour
a day is
the most
enjoyable,
most
therapeutic
part of
your
agenda.
To
others,
it's as
dreadful
as
taking
out the
trash
and
doing
the
dishes.
Yet,
like
your
household
chores,
you know
it's
something
you
simply
must do.
Cardiovascular
activity,
referred
to
simply
as
"cardio,"
should
be as
much a
part of
your
body-sculpting
endeavors
as
pulling
and
pushing
those
metal
plates.
As often
as
you're
pumping
the
iron,
you
should
also be
pumping
your
heart.
Unfortunately,
Americans
today
are more
glued to
the
screen,
whether
it be
the
television,
Nintendo,
or yes,
even the
Internet.
It has
been
concluded
that the
majority
of
Americans
have
insufficient
cardiovascular
activity
in their
daily
schedules,
thus
leading
to a
cartload
of
various
health
problems.
The 30
minutes
per day
that you
should
reserve
for
cardio
work
should
always
entail
exercises
that are
enjoyable,
manageable,
and of
course,
safe.
So if
you're
ready to
get
sweaty,
here are
a few
wise
choices:
RUNNING
(Outdoors):
Believe
it or
not,
this
exercise
reminds
me a lot
of
Howard
Stern.
Like the
infamous
DJ, you
either
love it
or hate
it.
Beyond
question,
however,
is the
simple
fact
that
running
is a
fantastic
way to
whip you
into
shape
and
provide
full
cardiovascular
fitness.
Running
is a
full-body
exercise
in which
only you
channel
the
motion,
resistance,
and
weight
distribution.
There
are no
wheels
or
cycles
doing
any of
the work
for you.
Sometimes,
running
can
actually
be too
rigorous
an
exercise
and for
bodybuilders
it's
been
known to
foil
some of
that
hard-earned
muscle
mass.
Also,
running
can take
a
considerable
toll on
your
joints,
particularly
your
knees
and
ankles
as well
as your
abused
feet.
TREADMILL:
This may
seem
like the
equivalent
to a run
through
the park
or the
neighborhood,
and in a
lot of
ways, it
is.
Running
is the
same
vigorous
exercise
whether
done
outdoors
or in.
Yet, the
treadmill,
because
of its
smooth
rubbery
conveyor
belt is
a lot
more
merciful
on your
joints.
It
doesn't
wear and
tear
your
body the
way
running
on the
tarred
street
will.
There is
no
pounding-like
effect.
However,
the
treadmill
does not
offer
the
natural
variations
such as
hills
and
curves
which
provides
for a
more
rigorous
workout
on the
streets.
Also,
the
fresh
air that
can fill
and
expand
your
lungs is
not a
benefit
from an
indoor
facility.
STAIRMASTER
&
STEPPERS:
Some
people
refer to
these
devices
simply
as
"sweat
machines."
close
by.
Stairmasters,
whether
they're
the
rotating
kind or
the step
versions,
are both
excellent
methods
of
losing
weight
and
shedding
body
fat.
Yet,
many
fitness
experts
have
concluded
that
stairs
work may
be
insufficient
in your
quest to
get in
shape.
For one,
the
exercise
relies
solely
on lower
body
movement
and
tends to
abandon
the
upper
torso.
Too
often,
people
rest
their
arms on
the bars
at their
sides,
taking
some of
the
resistance
(your
body
weight)
out of
your
legs.
STATIONARY
BIKES:
When you
ride the
stationary
bike, it
feels
like you
aren't
going
anywhere.
That's
because
you're
not. But
whether
or not
you're
making
strides
with
your
cardiovascular
health
is
another
matter.
While
these
bikes
are
beneficial
in
raising
the
heart
level,
they
also
provide
far less
strain
on the
knees
and back
than
other
methods
of
cardio
and are
excellent
for
toning
up the
quadriceps.
The
workout
you'll
get from
a
stationary
bike,
however,
is of
the
low-impact
variety
and like
the
scenery
in front
of you,
it may
feel
like
you're
not
going
anywhere,
especially
if
you've
set high
fitness
goals
for
yourself.
SWIMMING:
Go on
and make
a
splash.
This is
an
excellent
cardiovascular
activity
in that
it is a
total
body
exercise
and hits
the
various
muscles
in the
body.
The
water
provides
an
excellent
form of
resistance
that
will get
your
heart
pumping
in no
time.
The
benefits
for the
heart
and
lungs
are
endless.
As for
the down
side?
There's
only
one.
Not
every
fitness
club has
a
swimming
pool.
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