How to Start Your Own Personal Cardio Workout

If you're stressing about how to lose weight or how to begin a cardiovascular workout, let me give you some tips. As a single parent mom, going to the gym is not an option and an extra gym bill can't fit my budget. But there are ways of getting a cardiovascular workout without having to pay a dime.

ALWAYS STRETCH BEFORE A WORKOUT

I ran track and field throughout most of my school years and I can't stress enough how important it is to stretch before any workout. A cardio workout may not sound like a lot but if you're someone who's never done this before, it will be a lot. Stretching allows your body to warm up; it's an introduction to what's coming ahead.

Think of your body being submerged in the cold, you can't move or function right, not unless you've warmed up. Take at least ten minutes of warm up time.

JUMPING JACKS

This is one of the oldest exercises out, but it's the wisest. To begin try to at least do ten sets of twenty jumping jacks for at least ten minutes resting for about thirty seconds in-between. If you're confident in your jumping skills try to do as many jumping jacks in a one minute time frame for five minutes, taking a thirty second break in-between minutes. As your body becomes used to the exercise increase the challenge.

WALK THE STAIRS

There are so many ways to use stairs for cardio exercises but I will name only a few. For five minutes begin to walk up and down your stairs, be mindful of your posture and body mechanics, resting for two and a half minutes before resuming a second set of stairs for five minutes.
When walking up stairs, jogging, exercising, etc., be mindful of stomping. This can lead to damage of some important ligaments and tendons around your shins and ankles.

If you only have a few stairs don't worry aerobic exercises can be used?
Even when you're out you can get a small workout by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If you're on the third floor you've got yourself a 30-40 second workout. Trust me it sounds short but thirty seconds is a long time, especially when your exercising.

WALK

Take a walk around your neighborhood, check out some scenery, or walk with your kid/s. This is a great exercise for new mommies a win win for you and the baby. Walk more than a block allowing yourself to become lost without keeping track of time or how many blocks you've walked, this only discourages and tires you more.

GRAB A BIKE

If by chance you have nice weather, grab your bike and go. Have a little since of adventure when you're riding through your neighborhood. If you think of bike riding as an exercise you take away the fun. It's like telling a kid riding their bike its good for them, which they don't care, its fun. Never take the fun away from exercising; think of it as your playtime not exercise time.

Taking thirty minutes a day is like taking a recess break, you're filling your body with energy and you're allowing your cardiovascular system (heart) to start pumping that engine again.

MARCH IN PLACE

Imagine you're a soldier marching in perfect formation; be sure to keep your legs slightly bent when your foot comes back into contact with the ground. You never want to have completely straight legs; it adds more weight and pressure to the impact between your legs and the ground.

Try marching in place for one minute with a thirty second break in-between, do this for ten minutes. Also keep in mind that if at first you can't complete the whole ten minutes its okay, everyone's not the same and you have to go at your own pace. This is your own personal cardio workout.

SQUATS

Squats are a great way to get a quick cardio workout; it helps to improve the buttocks, hamstrings, and calf muscles.

Squat down your hallway by placing both hands behind your head; make sure that you lock them together for added balance. Place a leg in front of you as if you were stepping over a puddle, it doesn't matter which leg. Your hind leg shouldn't bear any weight, all your weight should be on your front leg. The sole of the foot for your front leg should be completely flat on the ground while your hind legs heel should face the ceiling.

Your legs should make the shape of an "L", using your hind leg push off the ground and squat again. The hind leg should now be your front leg, making the same "L" shape as before. Continue this exercise doing at least ten squats down the hall. This exercise is a little more challenging so maybe start with only three sets of ten.

WALKING

I am going to retouch on walking because this has so many choices to complete a cardio workout.

Once you become used to walking or jogging challenge yourself to make things a little more fun. Try bursting into a sprint then slowing down into a walk again, repeat this at least ten times, add a little more challenge by allowing yourself to walk for a certain period of time, maybe 10-30 seconds.

You can also try high knees; it's just like jumping through tires only the tires aren't there. The only thing you have to do is lift your knees to a 90 degree angle, keep your back straight with feet touching the ground like it was hot coal. This exercise requires quick steps and reaction...

PUNCHING BAG

This may not sound like a workout but if it doesn't then good. You don't have to get an expensive punching bag one of those blow up ones will do fine. Pretend you're a professional boxer, keeping your form proper, circling the punching bag throwing jabs as you go. Not only is this a great workout but it's also an awesome stress reliever.

You shouldn't feel any type of dizziness while your circling and jabbing, it should be a controlled pace for a continuous time of about 2-10 minutes. Remember to start off slow then work your way up longer time frames.

COOL DOWN

Just as its important to warm up before your workout, it's important that you cool down after your workout. Again stretch for about 10-15 minutes so your muscles won't become tight and sore. If you're working out for the first time in a long time being soreness is normal. Stretching and a proper cool down will help your body get used to its new found activity.

When you're first starting your personalized cardio workout, begin exercising at least three times a week for a total of sixty minutes. Once your body becomes used to the process increase your workout time. Also add a little spice by challenging yourself, but don't overstress your muscles, it only leads to injury. Take it easy at first and then push yourself to higher, safer levels of exercise methods.

MOST IMPORTANT

One of the most important steps to creating your own personal workout plan is faith. Believe in yourself to complete what you've started, it's so easy to give up when there's no immediate results. That's why it's important to keep your workout fun and adventurous. Only continued faith and efforts will give you the results you wish to achieve.