The most important muscle in the body is the heart. Yet, many people who workout seem to think they don’t need to do cardio. Cardiovascular (or cardio) exercise has numerous health benefits. In addition to burning calories and lowering your body fat, it will strengthen your heart and lungs. Since heart disease is the leading cause of premature death for both men and women, cardiovascular fitness is a very important and should never be over looked.
Most experts agree that cardiovascular training should last for 20 to 60 minutes, with the norm being 30 to 40 minutes. It should be performed a minimum of three days per week, with four to five days being optimal and six being the max. In order for an exercise to be considered “cardiovascular” or “aerobic,” it needs to elevate your heart rate to 60 to 85 percent of its maximum rate (the fastest it could possibly beat). This means that when you are in the “Zone”, you should still be able to talk but not carry on a long conversation.
For a complete fitness experience, weight training and cardiovascular training should share equal parts in your workout routine. With regular cardio workouts, you’ll find that you have enough stamina to give your weight training a better effort. Just begin your conditioning by picking an activity and work on exercising intensely enough to raise your heart rate and keep it elevated. And remember, the heart is the most important muscle in your body, so treat it that way. Think of it as an investment in yourself.
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