Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

What is the overall best total cardio workout......I used to think it was kick boxing...I kick boxed every day...that was the only cardio that I did....but it was interval cardio not steady state cardio like an endurance spin class. I am now thinking it is running or an endurance spin because you keep your heart rate elevated for the entire time instead of bringing it up and down....although kick boxing does double duty of toning your whole body especially when you insert calisthenic moves. I found though when I kick boxed everyday...my resting heart rate was insanely low....which it has risen a little bit since I stopped. I don't know if that means anything but I know that your heart needs to beat faster to pump blood when it is not in shape.

I think it would have to be running. It is so hard, lol. As soon as you get better whether it's running faster, or running further you can step it up a notch and continue to make it hard. I guess spinning/cycling could be up there with running, but with running you really have to use your entire body the whole time.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

Running is good. If you are just starting I would suggest going on the tred mil because you can run flat and how ever intensity you want it at. I started up running for track and field when I was small. Then got back into it when I was 15 do for competing in Kickboxing. I hated getting back into running because it was hard at first especially when I ran outside because I couldn't control what was next.
Another good benefit for a tred mill is interval training. You can run hard to 10-20mins or what ever you feel best, then go straight to weights. And then back on the tred mill etc... You're going to burn more calories through out the day.
Okay I'm going to stop rambling now

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Robert wrote:
My knee muscles look totally sweet where I'm holding my weiner.

Hi Emmybear,

People will argue and argue about this. I have gone from aerobic queen, to cyclist, to sprinter (very bad sprinter I may add lol) Theanswer is, "the best cardio exercise is the ones you really enjoy doing" Nothing worse that forcing yourself to do something that you don't like, it puts you in a negative frame of mind and the whole time you just want it over with.

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If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

Good point BethL.
But how will she know what she doesn't like if she doesn't try it out?

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Robert wrote:
My knee muscles look totally sweet where I'm holding my weiner.

IT's always hard starting a new exercise...but after I start seeing improvements I will probably like it.

It doesn't take long for your body to adapted to something new.
You may have to suffer, but for some reason you keep going back.
I see that you like Cardio kickbox and spining. Keep it up ! Those are very hard classes to take

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Robert wrote:
My knee muscles look totally sweet where I'm holding my weiner.

LOL sorry, I forget that not everyone has been doing cardio for 27 years. My Bad!

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If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

When I was in college I loved the aerobics classes.

The pace and coordination was challenging. My endurance was stretched and my concentration improved. The funky music was so dumb it was fun. I made friends with a lot of women. It was also nice to get out of the weight room. I got in really good shape. I had a spring in step.

If I didn't develop knee problems back then I would still be going.

I also loved the old aerodyne stationary bikes. I lost a lot of weight on those things.

Super, super, super l-o-n-g walks were my next favorite. I got some great scenery in and it was very meditative. My joints are getting in good enough shape that I may be able to take that up again.

The ellipitical is queen for me. It enabled me to workout again when my joints were trash and I could do nothing else.

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"The plural of anecdote is not data." (Roger Brinner)

I heart running! I like it so much that during the winter I ran too much on the treadmill and got badly injured. I haven't been able to run anymore for 3 months So experience, remember to be careful too. For me treadmills are the monster now, but if I would have had moderation perhaps I would sing another tune.
Beth makes a great point: enjoying. Have you tried dancing or body expression classes? It sounds like light stuff but if you get a course that is good enough it can get hardcore!

So...I guess I should go easy on the spinning... maybe do a different cardio everyday.....so I don't plateau or get injured.

As long as you feel that you're improving and no unwelcome pain comes from it, you will be just fine!! )

Cross training is important, for cardio. One of the trainers at my gym is in excellent shape, teaches step, and a lot of other classes. Anyway a few months ago he participated in a 15k race. Well his cardio level was fine for the 9.3 miles, but he hurt his foot because he didn't run properly and ended up wearing one of those boots. I think if you keep exercise fresh, and new and don't rush into a marathon first thing you can train your body so it won't get hurt. I run 3 times a week,not too fast, and not very far, but I do improve. I also take a Step class which is so different than running, and sometimes if I''m very brave I'll do a cardio jump class to mix it up. And of course there's always the dreaded treadmill, or an eliptical machine.

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The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible.

I've tried lots of different cardio and my two secret weapons are good music and a heart rate monitor. The music keeps you pumped and motivated and the heart rate monitor keeps you from slacking. I use a heart rate monitor when I swim to make sure I don't get carried away by how relaxing it is to be in the water. :p

I used to have a "cardio coach" on my MP3 player. I found it extremely useful too. His name is Sean O'Malley. You can google him to find his page and sample his tracks.

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"Nothing is impossible unless you think it is." Paramahansa Yogananda

Is your spinning class Les Mills RPM? I love that class, so much better than the old Spin classes and in less time. I was going twice a week but not so much lately, I would rather be outside.

Oh if your gym is using the Les Mills new classes then your kick boxing is BodyCombate, really great class. I stopped taking it though, I screwed up my hip again from doing the lateral kicks. Took almost 8 weeks to heal so I won't be back to that class. The instructor says, Oh just do low kicks, but I am not that type of person, I won't be ablet to control myself lol.

I have had this happen before with another Kick boxing class and when I was studying Tae Kwon Do. It was very disappointing to give that up, but my comfort is worth more.

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If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.