Cardio will mean different things to different people. Some will walk, others will jog, and others will use the elliptical at the gym. An advantage I found by using any of these machines at the gym is that if you enter your weight and age, it will give you an approximation of the calories you have burned during your workout. You might be surprised, after sweating for twenty minutes to find out that you have burned only 150, or 200 calories. And no, this should not disappoint you, but rather inspire you to watch what you eat. Just think of it, a can of coke is about 100 calories!!! (Next time you find yourself thinking of drinking soda, or eating something you shouldn’t for that matter, think: “I have to do cardio for 20 minutes”.

The problem, however, is not only the number of calories. Some of us need more than others, but there are good and bad foods. I would rather consume 100 calories of good food (which will contribute other nutrients) rather than a can of sugar, I mean, coke.

O.K. I am sidetracking too much here. Back to cardio. Cardio is good, but the amount you must do will vary depending on your fitness goals. For somebody trying to lose weight cardio is an excellent choice. For others trying to gain muscle mass too much cardio may mean loss of muscle. A better way to do cardio in this case would be high and low intensity intervals, and a shorter cardio session.

Start slow, listen to your body and give yourself time. Commit to a routine and you’ll see results. Remember to check with a doctor before starting any physical training program!

See you soon.