You can spot the folks performing what they incorrectly call cardio almost everywhere.
The Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park are two places I know well to check out the chronic cardio fanatics.
Other spaces to witness their training mistakes are the spinning room, treadmills, stationary bikes, and the other so-called cardio machines you find in a gym.
The real meaning of cardio workouts has long since gone out the window with the fitness industry pushing slogans like:
“Go hard or go home.”
“No pain, no gain.”
The biggest culprits committing the cardio sin are mostly younger and middle-aged runners.
You see them pounding the pavements or trails, running their hearts out, and loving it, because they think they are doing something great for their body. The truth is – they are not! This type of exercise harms the heart, and joints, and makes you more hungry, which results in overeating!
They don’t realize that their passion, mistaken for Cardio training, is an anaerobic mid- to high-intensity workout, putting enormous stress on their hearts.
Their double whammy ticket to heart disease and a heart attack is that they falsely believe going long can’t be wrong!
So they keep up their fast-paced runs for an hour or more to brag about the distance they covered in 1 hour.
The heat is on, leading everyone else to compete to go longer, harder, and faster.
That’s not cardio, folks. That’s a useless form of misunderstood training that will bust your heart, bang up your knees, ankles, and back, and deal you a bout of massive burnout.
That kind of day-by-day training will, over time, destroy your health.
Warning: Real, effective, and heart-healthy cardio is performed only in an aerobic state, not anaerobically.
Cardio Training The Right Way
As long as you follow the simple rules of aerobic cardio workouts, nothing can go wrong — you’re doing your body and mind a great favor.
Propper aerobic cardio workouts, such as fast-paced walking, biking, and slow swimming, build excellent heart and organ health.
Not just that, these exercises are fun, burn fat, build muscle and bone strength, and deliver a creative and positive mindset.
Fun fact: Some of the greatest minds in history went on long walks daily.
Here are a few examples:
- Aristotle
- William Wordsworth
- Charles Dickens
- Henry David Thoreau
- John Muir
- Patrick Leigh Fermor
- Soren Kierkegaard
- Ludwig Van Beethoven
It’s said they saw walking as a way to clear the brain, prevent depression, extend life, solve problems, enjoy their surroundings and nature, and find life’s purpose.
Walking at any speed is good for you — to make it an effective cardio session, you must pick up the pace!
Walking is my go-to cardio method, which I don’t see as a workout anymore. It’s become my hobby, a time to reflect, think, boost my fitness, and get creative.
Cardio Is Vital to a healthy lifestyle
Unfortunately, many fitness “gurus,” tell you to stop wasting your time with cardio and instead go to the gym and do daily heavy lifting.
Strength training to build lean muscles is undoubtedly important for overall health. However, the concept of daily heavy lifting, just like doing wrong chronic cardio, is entirely flawed and dangerous!
If you strength train too often and for too long, you’ll increase your chances of heart disease.
The same goes for “chronic and wrong” cardio workouts.
Simple facts:
1 — Cardio exercises form the base of your metabolic and mental health.
You’ll not get very far in life without a strong heart and cardiovascular system.
2 — Strength training your body for healthy lean muscle is a valuable bonus.
Beefing up your muscles to look like a gorilla will set you back in time, and only harm you.
3 — Adopt an active instead of a sedentary lifestyle, but never go too hard!
If you’re active, you’ll want to move your body in all kinds of ways frequently — that adds to your cardio output.
Every form of general movement is cardio — that’s nature.
Daily heavy weight lifting is not.
Please read my related training story here:
Why Workout Using Your Body As Your Gym In Nature Is Vital To Your Physical and Mental Health!
Final Thoughts
Following a heart-healthy fitness plan is much easier than you may think.
All you need to do: Move your body as often and as much as you can naturally throughout your day, stick to that routine, and not much planning is needed. It becomes second nature!
Any form of low-impact and low-intensity motion qualifies as cardio training. If you’re consistent, this will help you become and remain a healthy and fit person.
If you wish to add some strength training, that’s a great idea. But, please only do so 2 to a maximum 3 times per week for no more than 30 minutes a session.
I recommend using your body as your gym with calisthenics, and not weight lifting in a gym.
Cardio is king! Don’t believe anything else!
Rob
MBA from Robert Kennedy College & University of Cumbria, UK.
Certified Nutritionist & Health Coach | Trainer | Blogger | Copywriter | Author
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