The Iconic Man's: Cardio Workouts
The Top 5 best Cardio Workouts for men
If you’re aiming to look like The Rock, you’re going to have to do a little more than just weightlifting and focusing on your arms or legs. Believe it or not, Dwayne Johnson includes cardio workouts as part of his fitness and health routine. Which by the way, starts as early as 4 a.m. every morning (talk about dedication).
Cardio has many benefits, enough to persuade you to include this into your workout routine. Cardio can help you burn fat and calories if you’re looking to lose weight. It also is fantastic for your heart in that it makes it strong and it helps it pump blood. It can also help you improve your breathing and can reduce your risk of heart attacks, lower your cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes and in some cases, prevent some forms of cancer from developing. All in all, cardio is legit.
There are many types of cardio workouts out there that you can perform, but which one is the best one? Honestly, we will always recommend that you chose the workout that works best for you. If you’re not used to doing cardio, it might be a good idea to start slow so you avoid soreness. Many studies have shown that people are less likely to continue their workout routines if they don’t have a good first experience. So ease into it, there’s no rush. At the end of the day, results will start showing up little by little, no matter how fast you run or how much lift. It’s all a process.
You can start walking at least 30 minutes a day and then committing to a more vigorous cardio routine. Whether you’re ready to break a sweat or need to start slow, below is a list of the top five cardio workouts to lead you into the journey of becoming an iconic man:
1. Running of course: Exciting, right? Not everyone if a fun of running, and you don’t have to be. But this type of cardio will help you to burn fat and calories quickly. Of course, this could be at the expense of not building or maintaining muscle. But you don’t have to go fast or for long, you can run at a steady pace for about 10 minutes before you start your weightlifting routine. You can also incorporate it as an interval workout between sets. When I started running, I lasted all but two minutes. I started running outside, which seemed more interesting than hopping on a treadmill and running on the same spot. I also set a goal to run a little more every day. It wasn’t easy, I will confess. But over time, I realized it was a mental thing and I eventually started participating in 5K and 10K races. Now, you don’t have to make these your goals too, but just know that if you’re not a ‘runner’ (as I wasn't) things can change for the better!
2. Stair climber: Not a runner? No problem! When there is a will, there surely is a way. You can always just hop on the stair climber and start on climbing - all the way up, nothing can stop you! Like running, it can help you burn calories and fat. Unlike running, you don’t have to go for minutes without a break. Put more effort into it for a shorter time (say about 30 minutes) and when you hop off, grab a dumbbell and do a strength workout. I’m not a huge advocate of this piece of equipment, however, it does help build resistance.
3. Jumping rope: This is sort of a mix between the two workouts mentioned earlier. Grab a rope and as House of Pain would say, jump around! It’s best to do intervals of fast and slow jumps than jumping consistently for minutes. If you can’t perform this move well, try jumping as fast as you can for one minute and resting for 20-30 seconds. Continue to do this for a couple more sets. For me, jumping has always been a good way to stay fit, all while having fun!
4. Cycling: Have you ever wondered why those spin class attendees always walk out sweaty? Cycling might not seem like an intense workout, but we dare you to try it. An average weighing man can burn over 1,000 calories after one hour of cycling. So again, if you’re looking to shed that fat, get on cycling.
5. Swimming: This is probably one of the most fun ones to do. I personally don’t swim a lot (except for when I’m on vacation during summertime). However, the benefits of swimming are endless. Not only is a total-body workout, but it’s also a way of burning calories quickly. Do a few laps, then follow up with a water-treading interval, and then repeat these two steps until you’re done.
Just like any other workout, you will need to let some time pass until your body can build resistance. Once it does, remember to change your workout and make it a little harder little by little. You don’t want muscle memory to prevent you from getting the results you’re looking for. Surely but surely, you’ll be getting the iconic man body you deserve!
Found this article to be helpful? Are there any workouts we left out that are helpful to you? Share your tips by leaving a comment below, we want to hear from you!
Author: Anaira Perez
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