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Begin Your Cardio Workout Here

heart cardioAre you interested in starting a cardio workout ro:

  • Improve your health?
  • Lose weight?
  • To feel better?
  • Take control of  your health?


Excellent!

You've come to the right place.

This site is about getting started.

That's why we...


  • Focus on people who are over forty and out of shape.
  • Take a kinder, gentler approach to fitness.
  • Believe in easing you into a sustainable exercise lifestyle.
After all, it takes time to adjust to exercise.
The goals of this cardio workout article are to help you... 
  • Start simple
  • Utilize low impact exercise
  • Build up gradually
This cardio workout will quickly get you on the right path.
Before you know it, you will:
  • Feel better
  • Have more energy.
To begin, you need to choose what kind of exercises you are comfortable doing.

Choosing Your Cardio Exercise

The best way to start is with walking.
That's what our bodies are made for and you don't need any expensive equipment. Walking is also ideal because it is:
  • Low impact
  • You get fresh air (better than indoor air)
  • Changing scenario keeps it interesting
Moreover, you are in charge and can take it at your own pace.
There is no pressure to keep up with anybody. You may prefer to do your exercise inside, in which case you may consider purchasing a treadmill or elliptical trainer. That's a popular choice too.

Other cardio exercises you can consider are:

  • Bike riding
  • Running
  • Exercise classes
Bike riding is also an excellent choice for the same reasons walking is.
Running is great if you are up to it, but may not be a good place to start.
It is not low impact, so you may want to build up to it by using a walking routine.

Exercise classes can be a good option, but they are not focused on you.
Often the instructors are younger and fit, and conduct the class at their level..
It is likely that you may not be able to keep up

While you can go at your own pace, many people feel pressured to keep up, or embarrassed if they can't. Unless the class is specifically geared towards older clients, then it may not be a good place to start either.

I recommend you pick a cardio workout that you can have control over.
You may also consider a sports cardio activity, like tennis for example.
Which is fine if you are up to it and have time to fit it into your lifestyle.

It is important that you pick an activity that you can do frequently and on a regular basis.

Create An Exercise Schedule

Now that you know what type of exercise you want to start with, it's time to create a schedule. Your cardio goals should be one of the following:
  • Moderately intense cardio 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week
  • Vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week
For weight-loss purposes, increase the moderate exercise to 1 hour per day.

This may seem like a lot, but it isn't and here's why...

Moderate exercise does not have to be done all at once.
You can break it up through the day.
Any activity, be it walking, yard work, etc counts toward moderate exercise..

Vigorous exercise is where you really get the heart pumping.
It needs to be done all at one time, not broken up through the day.
Though, perhaps you will want to focus on getting used to moderate exercise before thinking about vigorous exercise.

The choice is yours.

Eventually and ideally, you will want to have a mix of both in your fitness plan.
For now,  start with moderate exercise
Write your schedule in your calendar:
  • What exercise and intensity you are going to do
  • At what time you will do it
  • For how long 

Get Your Gear Together

Whatever exercise you do, you will likely need some good footwear. Also, I recommend you purchase a heart rate monitor. They are affordable and really helpful for knowing if your heart rate is in the right exercise zone. Find out more about your heart rate exercise zones here. If you will be exercising outside, make sure to have:
  • Proper clothing
  • Sun glasses to protect your eyes
  • Sunscreen to keep your skin healthy.
If you are purchasing a treadmill or some other cardio equipment, then see our Home Fitness Equipment section for tips on setting up a home gym.  

Starting To Exercise

Now  you're ready to get going with your cardio workout.
You are about to embark on a great journey.
You have made the best decision of your life - to start exercising.

Congratulations!

Day one on your schedule has arrived and you find yourself standing outside.
You're wearing your runners, a HRM, sunglasses, and workout clothes.
Your iPod is loaded with your favorite tunes and you’re ready to roll

Let's go!

Your goal is 30 minutes of moderate exercise.
You don't know what to expect or how hard it will be.
Don't worry; just use the first few workouts to get into the feel of things.

You start walking and aim to keep your heart rate above 105 bpm.
As you walk you regularly check your pulse to ensure you are in the right zone.

You adjust your speed as required and continue on. 
Because you are doing moderate exercise you are not out of breath.
30 minutes later you arrive at home.

Success! Day one is complete!

You continue your cardio workout on a regular basis and you are determined to stick with it. Some days you don't exercise because other things come up. But that's okay because you always get back to it. Right?

Oh yes you do!

Before long you find yourself looking and feeling better.
You've lost weight, activities are easier, and your health is improving!

What's that?

You say you're ready to try some vigorous exercise now?

Good for you!

Raising The Bar!

Vigorous exercise is not that different from moderate exercise.
What's different is that you need to keep your heart rate at a higher level.
Determine your heart rate for vigorous exercise, using the exercise zone chart.

Perhaps you need to keep it between 123 to 140 bpm.
No problem.  You can do it!
You set out on your first day of vigorous exercise.

Hmmm, reaching that zone by walking is not so easy. 
You break into a slow jog.
Ah, that's it, now you're in the zone!

20 minutes you've completed a vigorous cardio workout, and you're back at home.
You notice afterwards that you feel fantastic.

You've reached another milestone!

Keep It Up!

Several months fly by and exercise has become an important part of your life.
It's not something you have to do, but something that you enjoy doing.
You  wonder  how you ever got by without  it.

People notice the change in you, but more importantly, you notice it.
This is the new you and you're never going back!
Your cardio workout is the key to a happy and healthy life.





You will let nothing stand in your way.

Believe it!

Do it!


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Disclaimer: The health, fitness, and exercise information presented here is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before starting an exercise program or changing your diet.

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