Cardio

Cardio workouts are vitally important for a healthy lifestyle. In a nutshell, they:

*Make your heart stronger and healthier

*Increase lung function

*Help maintain a healthy weight

*Help you sleep better

*Make your body systems function more efficiently

*Decrease stress

*Increase bone density

A good cardio workout will last for 20-30 minutes, within your target heart rate range. Just a warning, unless you are an athlete, this is not easy. It can be very uncomfortable, but will get easier as you become more fit. If you can text, play games on your phone (ahem...mom) or chat up your neighbor with ease while doing your cardio workout, then you probably aren't working hard enough to be getting the maximum benefit. You may get to a point where you can go on a run with a friend and converse the whole time, all while maintaining your target heart rate, but this is probably a ways off.

The two most important things about a cardio workout are:

1. Drink lots of water prior to and, if needed, during your workout. You need to be hydrated.

2. Stretch before and after your workout.

Take it slow. Don't try to run 3 miles on your first day, or get on the bike for an hour. Start out slow and as your endurance increases, so can your intensity and duration.