subject: Cardio Plans [print this page] Everyone should have a cardio planEveryone should have a cardio plan. If you are looking to live longer and have more energy a cardio plan goes a long way. Research shows that people in the bottom 20 percent of the population in fitness are more than 65 percent more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than those in the top 20 percent. When inactive people change what they are doing you can see big improvements in a short period of time. People that are couch potatoes that add 30 minutes of walking per day to their schedule can reduce their chances of having one of the preceding ailments to just 10 percent.
Research shows that people can reduce their chances of heart disease by adding 20 minutes of walking just three times per week. This is enough to get your blood flowing and increase energy levels, but it is not enough to reduce fat levels. I personally feel that 3 days per week is not enough and it should be 5 or 6 minimum. This is to get you in the habit of exercising. As your level of fitness increases your stamina will also.
Each workout should have the overall goal to improve your health. That being said there is not anything set in stone that says you must exercise for 30 consecutive minutes. Research has shown that you can get the same benefits from three 10-minute sessions instead of doing one 30-minute consecutive session. This can be done just not with cardio but can be done with all sorts of exercise programs. The key to improving is to be intense and consistent at what you are doing.
We all know that we need to push ourselves when working out, but how much. If you are simply looking to feel and look better, than being active in your target zone is the key to achieving this. The target zone is between 50 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate, the maximum number of times your heart can beat in a minute. It is wise to work in your target zone the majority of the time. This will greatly lower your chances of heart disease and keep things interesting and intense.
Be sure to realize that when you are a beginner anything that you do with high intensity is exercise. As your level of fitness increases your intensity during working out should as well. This is the way to achieve maximum results in the shortest amount of time and reduce your chances of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, and any other diseases.
