Not all cardio is made equal | #THEHUE
A guide to your best path to building a sustainable cardiovascular routine.
When I used to hear ‘cardio,’ my mind used to automatically associate this word with running, cycling, swimming, rowing, and the like. For a long time, cardio meant these specific steady-state versions of exercise. But, what I’ve realised since is how narrow this understanding of cardio in fact is.
“Cardio” is short for “cardiovascular,” which Merriam-Webster dictionary defines as “of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels” (1) and “used, designed, or performed to cause a temporary increase in heart rate (a cardiovascular workout).” With this definition, it’s evident why the typical activities we label as ‘cardio’ are part of this category, but is a limited definition.
For a long time, I too believed the popular matras: to shed weight, I need to do a lot of cardio. But, when faced with the question, “Is cardio better for weight loss and my overall health,” the latest science on exercise left me to confront the fallacy I had lived with for so long. What was demanded of me as a fitness professional, as an instructor, and as an evolving recreational athlete was to understand that cardio meant so much more than I realised; which eveals the common misconception about weight loss, health, and exercise that many people still fall into.
Here are some helpful resources to help you determine the best approach to your cardio routine:
Everything You Need to Know About Cardio | VeryWellFit
From debunking the fallacies you’ve chosen to believe about cardio to understanding how to find the best cardio for your personality to defining the best cardio for absolute beginners— this article, is true to its name— it’s your best introduction to everything you need to know about cardio.
A Perfect FITTE: 5 Ways to Customise Cardio Programming | NASM
This article provides a comprehensive yet practical guide on how to build a sustainable cardio routine by dividing the components of cardio into practical segments to consider. If you want help on how to apply your newly learned knowledge in a practical system, this article has the answer.
Harvard professor debunks the biggest exercise myths | Daniel Lieberman | Big Think
While there are a lot of benefits to gain from cardio, there are also a lot of myths to debunk around exercise. What’s interesting is how Lieberman highlights that exercise, as you think about it most, is not actually the be-all and end-all to your survival. The modern way of life demands you to choose to exercise, but he acknowledges how inherently difficult it is to commit to. Instead, he points to the idea of healthspan and how we should view life and exercise in these terms, which is worth learning about.
New study connects cardiovascular exercise with improved memory | Big Think
If you’re still not convinced with the value of cardiovascular exercise, then this is the science to support. Outlining the latest research around the benefits to gain through cardio, the article outlines the surprising findings on how cardiovascular activity plays a role in preserving memory as we age.
But, the key component to understanding how to build a sustainable cardiovascular routine that matters is to do what works for you. Like having preferences in music, there’s a cardiovascular exercise that’s best for your lifestyle too. Building a habit slowly over a longer period of time is also a way to guarantee your success, as one of the key aspects to building a routine that’ll last is to make sure you strip down to the basics and focus on integrating more movement into your day-to-day first. But, if ever in doubt, make sure to strip down to the basics and don’t let yourself get distracted by the trends.
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