Cardio You Haven't Tried

Appetizer
Finding new ways to get your heart pumping will make exercise more fun and more effective.

Main Course
If you are starting to find the treadmill tedious and the stair stepper to be a snooze, it’s time to add a new cardiovascular exercise to your repertoire. Here are few simple things that you may not have considered.

Jump Rope - This grade school recess favorite can be surprisingly effective at shedding calories. After you’ve mastered the basic “single hop” (where the rope goes under your feet once per rotation) try the more challenging “double rotation,” where the rope has to fly underneath you twice before you touch the ground.

Handball - Sports are always a fantastic way to get your body moving, mostly because it feels more like fun than exercise, and handball works well because all you need is a wall, a ball, and two players. Just be sure to wear goggles or a sturdy pair of glasses while you’re playing to protect your eyes.

Hiking or Rock Climbing - If you haven’t already, check out the parks in your area to see what kind of hiking trails and climbing areas are available. A nice outing on a hiking trial not only lets you engage in a lot of low intensity cardio but also gives you some neat areas to explore. Rock climbing can be a bit more intense, so take it easy if you’ve never done it before.

Rowing - A rowing machine can get you into your target heart rate quickly and work your back at the same time.

Dessert
I think that boredom is the number one killer of fitness motivation, so I always have my clients trying out new exercises. Sometimes, like in the case with hiking or rock climbing, it can lead to a lifelong hobby. Try a little bit of everything and eventually you’ll find something you’ll enjoy sticking with.