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Other Forms of Cardio There are tons of other types of cardio exercises. Some I do. Some I don't. Swimming. I love to swim too. I signed up for a non-student membership at the local university, and I try to go swimming at least twice a week. I swim laps for 30 minutes at a time. Swimming is excellent aerobic activity, plus it strengthens muscles. Just remember, you have to swim with some intensity. Just floating around in the pool isn't going to burn calories. Swimming is excellent for beginners because it's very low-intensity. It's not going to potentially hurt your ankles or knees like jogging or even walking could. Get some good goggles. It's hard to focus on your swimming when you're trying to keep the water out of your eyes. You don't need to wear a Speedo. In fact, for my exercise swimming, I like big baggy swim shorts that have some drag to them. They provide more resistance in the water (the opposite of what speed swimmers want). Do some different strokes. Start out freestyle, and then try a backstroke, breaststroke, or - the hardest - a butterfly stroke. Playing Catch. You wouldn't think of playing catch as an aerobic activity... but then again, most people play catch standing still! Use either a baseball, football, or even a frisbee, and keep moving. Run side to side and have your partner try to hit you. It's great fun. Handball. Awesome workout! All you need is a tennis ball and a wall. You don't even need a buddy. Just bounce the ball off the wall and hit it back with your hand (palm). My game: I pick a target on the wall (I try to visualize a block about one foot square if I can't find a real target). If I hit the square, I get a point. See how many points you can rack up in 30 minutes. Tomorrow, try for a better score. Cross-Country Skiing. I'm dying to try this, but to be honest, I've never done it. I don't live close to any skiing areas, so I haven't had the pleasure of trying this yet. I'll let you know if I do! Rowing. I do a little bit of rowing at home - I have an attachment for my weight bench that allows me to do some real simple rowing. It's not something I love... but it's a change of pace a few times a month. Good rowing machines can be fun. The most fun - get yourself a kayak or canoe. I plan to get a kayak this summer to go creek-kayaking. Speed Golf. Do you like to golf? Try speed golf. You need to try to get a time when the course isn't packed... but just hit the ball and move to the next hole as fast as you can. Carry your own clubs... and of course, no carts please! |
