Benefits of Cardio Workouts | HBR Personal Training

CARDIO. Is it your pain or your passion? It doesn’t matter how you define it, the reality is that cardio exercise is an important component in every fitness plan.

The health benefits of cardiovascular exercises are endless. The good news is that you do not need expensive workout equipment or a gym membership to get a good cardio workout because simple activities like running up the stairs or going for long walks are just as effective as a treadmill, elliptical, indoor bike, etc…. And won’t cost you a dime!

Here are some of the advantages of cardio workouts:

1. Boosts Respiratory Health

If you are just starting, doing cardio may leave you out of breath. This can be uncomfortable because no one likes to feel as if their lungs are burning. Just remember: it is beneficial in the long run and will only get easier.

When exercising, your body tissues use oxygen faster than when you are sitting. As a result, your lungs have to work harder to meet the demand for oxygen in your body, which enables them to be more efficient. The lungs won’t get bigger, but they will be more effective in drawing oxygen from the air that you breathe in and eliminating carbon dioxide from the body as you breathe out.

Within a short time, you’ll notice that you won’t be running out of breath like you before. You will also notice that enduring strenuous exercises and activities such as playing with your kids, lifting heavy objects, or running up the stairs will be progressively less difficult.

2. Helps With Weight Loss

This is one of the major reasons why people engage in aerobic exercises. This doesn’t come as a surprise since having regular cardio sessions can help a person burn fat and shed off a few extra pounds.

When doing cardio, your body accesses stored fat and burns it up to produce enough energy to power your muscles, thus resulting in weight loss. If you want to burn more fat through cardio, you should go for intense aerobics that can challenge your lungs + heart and push you to your limits.

*Keep in mind that having a very high heart rate indicates that you are pushing your body too hard, and you should relax a little and give your body time to recover.

3. Boosts Your Mood

Are you constantly stressed out by your work? Perhaps something unexpected happened, and now you are feeling down? Cardiovascular exercises can help lift your mood. This is because during cardio, your brain experiences an increase in neural growth and less inflammation, therefore developing activity patterns that promote calmness.

Your body also releases feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin, which can regulate your mood. This explains why you develop a positive mindset and feel more relaxed and calmer after a workout session.

Also, if you decide to exercise outdoors, exposing yourself to fresh air and a change of scenery could help you forget your stress. If your friends join you during aerobics or you decide to take a group fitness class, not only will your mood be lifted because of the release of the feel-good hormones, but you will be enjoying the company of others.

4. Improves Sleeping Patterns

Regular exercise can help those who are suffering from chronic insomnia. Exercise can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increases the length of sleep. Even If you are not suffering from insomnia, cardio can help you fall asleep much faster and reduce daytime sleepiness.

Cardio can also prevent leg cramps when you are asleep—a problem that keeps a lot of people awake at night. If you are using this method to improve sleeping patterns, it is recommended to schedule aerobics in the morning as some studies show that exercising in the evening or the afternoon can make it challenging for some individuals to fall asleep. If you must work out in the evening, go for moderate-intensity cardio exercises rather than high-intensity.