what cardio do you do (if any)?

[hmmmm16417]

Since my "new beginning" in december, I have not had any cardio in my workouts. I'm down to 216 (from 240) and am planning on adding some cardio. I know some people are completely against it while others swear by it.

my employer has a gym on site that I can work out in for FREE provided I go at least 30 times per quarter (about 3 x per week), otherwise it's $45 per quarter. It's actually a pretty nice gym that I wish i could just work out at on a regular basis.

Gym contents:
95T Treadmills NEW (12)
95Ci Upright bikes (6)
95Ri Recumbent bikes (6)
95Si Stair climbers (4)
95X Elliptical Trainers NEW (10)
Magnum Upper Body Bike
Matrix Rower
Dumbbells 5lbs. to 100lbs.
Smith machine
Cable crossover machine (2)
Flat Bench (2)
Decline bench
Military Bench
Kettlebells
tons of free weight plates (literally)

other Machines:
hack squat
Seated leg press
leg curl,
hamstring curl,
glute machine,
hip adductor,
hip abductor,
calf raise,
lat pulldown,
seated row,
back extension,
chest press,
pectoral fly,
should press,
lateral raise,
bicep curl,
tricep extension,
assisted chin/dip machine,
abdominal crunch

Boxing Area:
Matted area with 4 heavy bags,
1 speed bag
1 double-end bag


Anyways, priorities rule, so right now I work out at home because it's more convenient for my family time, but as far as my cardio..... I'm considering doing a 45 minute spinning class that my employer offers for free at the gym on Mondays & Wednesdays. I could always just pop in an extra time every week to get my "official" weight on their nice scale. LOL and MAYBE use their equipment on my heavy days or leg days. But i want to make sure I do the 30 days every quarter so I don't have to pay the $45 every three months because I'd have to sign up for the "free" membership to do the spinning classes for free.

I've never done spinning......would the (2) spinning classes be good for cardio? Assuming I would do them on my "rest" days from lifting..... or should I still have complete REST days ?

Just curious what you O35 guys/gals do for YOUR cardio.

[lifter629]

We do what you guys call cardio 6 days a week like most pro bbr's do but while on vaca cuppla weeks ago my son and i decided to take our first spin class at the hotel spa and this bitch kicked our ass. You think you are doing cardio until you take one of these insane classes and you realize your cardio is bs.

[thebencher900lb]

jump rope and agility ladder

[dazlittle]

spinning is great fun and would be awesome for cardio, as you get fitter you apply more resistance and spin faster!

I personally do a bit of running (outdoors not on the dreadmill), road biking, MTB, body boarding, dog walking.

I've just booked a holiday for my 40th later this year which is advertised as a 4 day exercise adventure and involves rock climbing, coasteering, MTB, fell running, sea kayaking etc..... so I need to up my cardio to ensure I can keep up with the young(er) ones.

I do cardio that I enjoy otherwise I would just ditch it, same with lifting really I enjoy it that much that I want to do it 4 times a week.

[SuperZar]

I try to squeeze in 3x - 40min sessions a week. It does wonders for my blood pressure, and of course it's good for heart/lungs. I was getting out of breath just going up the stairs for a while. I don't do it for weight loss, and don't feel it's intense enough to affect my muscle building goals.

I don't run anymore due to knee issues. So I'm at the elliptical at the gym, are treadmill at home with a 10% or so incline and fast pace. I watch a movie on my tablet/phone and time goes by pretty quick.

[hmmmm16417]

I do have treadmill, eliptical and recubant bike at home.....but I would rather run outside than stare at a wall LOL

my wife said she LOVED spinning class when she did it several years ago.....my problem is I will out sweat anyone near me hahahahaha and probably out smell them too!

[Keith5x5]

Sprints

20 yards x 10

15 yards x 10 sprinting backwards

[dazlittle]

.....my problem is I will out sweat anyone near me hahahahaha and probably out smell them too!

I'm the same, there is a pool of sweat under my bike when I spin!

[doughnutgut]

Walk to the gym.

Brisk walk if it is raining.

Lift weights faster.

Stationary cardio hurts just writing it.

[GKC45]

I walk a mile every day. I make it a point not to breathe hard since I am holding the hand of a 5 year old.

[ajdahlheimer]

I run about 10 miles a week. Mix of treadmill and outside depending on weather. Also, I've never been a person to take much downtime between lifting sets and I have read that doing that can be positive from a cardiovascular perspective.

[mcbourque]

Spinning is really fun. It's more of a HITT kind of workout if taught right.
It will all depend on who teaches it so you need to try different instructors.

I can't do cardio because of my hip right now. I used to teach aerobics and I really miss it. I also miss running. And jumping rope, plyometrics.

My big goal is to rehab enough to be able to do a Zumba class I'm sure I'll make it since it's lower impact.

And this summer I'll have time to swim laps.

If I do a machine, I really like the rowing machine. With all machines, doing interval is really good and less boring - go really hard for a minute then coast for 30 sec - try different interval combination.

Just try stuff and see what you like.

[DuracellBunny]

I swim 2 miles 2 or 3 times a week.

[mirroroferised]

Jogging, cycling, spinning, squash and ball hockey for me.

Soin classes are great cardio, especially in the dead of winter around here. I agree with the above comment too that the instructor can make or break a class and the music they play is a big part of it too. It's a fun workout though and I'll take an annoying spin instructor over sitting by myself on a stationary bike or treadmill.

[sue1971]

I cycle to work three or four days a week so I'm lucky that I don't even have to think about it lol. Plus I'm about to start a zumba class in the next week or two (gotta get the kids school holidays out of the way first so I can commit to it, and thats next week), plus I do a couple of kickbox themed workout dvd's that are cardio/strength combined.

[phamine]

45 mins Spin twice a week and 60 mins Vinyasa Yoga twice a week.

Spin is killer depending on the instructor as someone mentioned. Hate those endurance instructors.

[Jbizzlechizzle]

I play basketball once a week and I find that's enough cardio for me. I lift 4-6 days a week on top of that.

[CFPeterson68]

I do low intensity elliptical. I want to work my muscles and burn calories, but I don't want to stress them. That's what my weight lifting is for. A trainer said I could do HIIT once a week on an off-day, but I tried it ruined my recovery, probably due to my age.

[snoack]

My son is a baseball player, spend a lot of time on the field with him. Other than that I walk my dog 3-4x a week for about a half hour after dinner. We lift heavy 3-4x per week during baseball season, 5-6x per week from August-November. That's all the cardio I feel that I need.

[mcours2006]

I run a lot. I used to enjoy working on the Concept 2 rowing machine, but not so much lately. A few years ago I was pursuing a sub-7:00 2km using a prescribed program. The workouts got really intense and I felt burnt out.

[sok454]

I have started doing a lot of 30m farmer walks in between sets with dumbells. I typically do 100 lb each arm. (Went up to 110 last night.) Really get's my HR up and works my core and grip strength. I also do treadmill walking and will be starting to ruck for about 1-2 hrs a week and increasing that to about 5-6 hrs/wk in a few months. Along with diet changes I'm going for a drop to 220.

[tomnationwide]

I bicycle to and from work but I live in Chicago and we haven't had a good day to start the season yet.

[racedoc]

15 minutes L/MISS/warmup prior to lifiting, then 15 minutes L/MISS cardio at the end of the workout.

[Mike Spitzer]

30 minutes - 3 days per week
Inside the THR zone
Not steady but every 5-10 minutes change the speed and intensity
Always AFTER training on lifting days -- not before

[hitman79]

What is this cardio you speak of? When the weather gets nice I might try some.

[Silentpoet]

Walking on the treadmill, but to be honest I think a squat workout does about as good for my heart. Most of my workouts are heavy compound workouts and I will do 20 minutes or so of treadmill walking at the commercial gym. Home gym I just do heavy stuff mostly, don't have cardio equipment. Would like to get some big tires and some railroad ties. Used to love railroad tie carries for distance for cardio. But basically I hate cardio.

[hmmmm16417]

but to be honest I think a squat workout does about as good for my heart.

amen! a good leg day kicks my a$$ and I can't breathe when done

[Jtbny]

I push a prowler around once a week and run a couple 5ks a year.