Whether you are trying to lose weight or just stay healthy, cardio is one of the most important aspects of a good exercise plan. In fact, it is the most effective way to get rid of fat, maintain your heart health and even help prevent diseases such as cancer. However, how can you make sure you are doing the right exercises for you?

Walking

Whether you want to lose weight or simply get fit, walking can be a great way to do it. It’s one of the easiest exercises to do, and doesn’t require expensive equipment or special training. If you are new to walking, you should start with 10 minutes of daily walking, and then gradually increase to longer, more strenuous walks.

According to a 2021 study, walking 20 minutes per day can improve health and even help you live longer. If you are overweight, it can lead to a significant amount of weight loss.

It can also lower blood sugar and ease joint pain. It increases mental health, too. During your walk, you may feel happier and more connected to others.

In addition to its weight loss benefits, walking is good for your heart and immune system. It also can ease depression and seasonal depression.

To boost your physical activity level, you can incorporate strength training into your routine. You can do speed intervals during your walk, which involves walking briskly for 60 seconds and recovering for 30 seconds.

Low-Moderate Intensity Cardio

Whether you are looking for a weight loss solution or just want to get in shape, you might be wondering if low-moderate intensity cardio is the best way to go. While this type of exercise will burn calories and strengthen your heart and lungs, it doesn’t necessarily provide the best overall weight loss results.

A better approach is to mix low-moderate intensity cardio with higher-intensity exercise. The most obvious advantage of low-moderate intensity exercise is the fact that it is easier on your joints. In addition, a lower-intensity workout can be done on a treadmill, bike, or in the privacy of your own home. This is especially true for those who are just beginning their fitness journey.

The best part is that you will get a similar amount of cardio benefit from doing a low-moderate workout as you would from a high-intensity exercise. The key to this is the right combination of exercise time, energy source, and intensity.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is a form of training that is ideal for losing fat. It is also great for cardiovascular fitness. It increases your VO2 max, or the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use.

The HIIT technique involves short bouts of high-intensity exercise followed by short periods of lower-intensity exercise. During these intervals, your heart rate will increase to at least 80% of its maximum. During this phase, your muscles will burn fat as fuel. In addition, HIIT is great for increasing your endurance and strength.

Studies show that people who perform HIIT workouts lose weight and reduce their waistline more than those who do traditional exercises. This is because HIIT is a time-efficient method. It doesn’t require special equipment, and it can be performed in any gym.

In fact, a study conducted on overweight and obese sedentary adults showed that HIIT helped them lose more than 28.5% of their abdominal fat. The study also found that participants saw improvements in cardiorespiratory capacity and VO2 max.

Resistance Training

Whether you are trying to gain muscle or lose fat, resistance training can help you achieve your goals. This type of exercise increases your body’s resting metabolic rate (RMR). Your RMR helps you burn calories long after you’ve finished your workout.

Research shows that resistance training can lead to significant improvements in your metabolic rate. This will make it easier to burn off fat. The increased metabolism also leads to greater energy expenditure at rest.

The best resistance-training program will combine volume, intensity, and variety. Depending on your goal, you may want to increase the number of repetitions of an exercise, change the weight, or increase the time you spend exercising.

The best programs will gradually increase the intensity of your exercises as your muscles become stronger. It’s a good idea to work with a personal trainer or fitness professional to find a program that is suited to your needs.

A 2012 study showed that resistance training can lead to a 7% increase in the resting metabolic rate. This is due to the hormonal response that occurs after exercising. This is called EPOC. The extra calories burned after a workout can be used by the body to maintain or build new muscle.