Cardio is the style of exercise sometimes referred to as aerobic exercise in which you do repetitive activity that makes your heart and lungs work faster and harder. Common activities include the likes of running, walking, cycling and swimming, as well as actual aerobic classes such as spin, step or dance.
Depending on your age, level of fitness and weight, and whether you are suffering from any health conditions, you should consult your GP or talk to a personal trainer before you embark on any cardio exercise program.
Once you’ve been given the go-ahead to start exercising, you then need to set your fitness goals – you should choose a program tailored to those goals, whether they are losing weight or trying to get fit enough to take part in a 10k.
Improving your cardio endurance will not only help you get fit but will also improve your general health so everyday activities such as walking, housework and climbing stairs is not a chore that leaves you breathless. The more often you exercise intensely for a longer period of time the better your cardio endurance and fitness will become.
Each of us has different needs and goals for our fitness. For example, older people or those with mobility issues, perhaps caused by conditions such as arthritis, may find that a gentle walk 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes at a time is ideal for improving cardio endurance.
When losing weight is the goal, the key is to increase the frequency and intensity over a period of time. Those same rules apply to anyone looking to participate in distance running with the added proviso that frequency of running is even more key to improving endurance.
If you’re new to cardio exercise, it’s important to start slowly and build intensity so you don’t get injured.