Kick off your cardio

Engage in a variety of physical activities that challenge the body, prevent workout plateaus, and give you impressive results. Adding variety into your schedule can be as simple as mixing up the type of exercises, locations, time of day, the intensity, and the duration.

There are several cardio exercises that strengthen the heart and get your body in shape. Swimming, biking, walking, aerobics, rock climbing, ice skating, stair masters, elliptical, or running are all great examples. Incorporate a mixture of exercises to keep you interested in physical activity.

Take advantage of your home turf! Are you near popular hiking trails or beaches? What about fitness facilities or indoor pools or tracks? Do some research about your neighboring cities to see what exercise options are available. You may be surprised how affordable and accessible various forms of exercise can be in your area.

Once you feel comfortable with your exercise routine, keep things interesting by making slight variations. Try swimming a lap as fast as you can, then slow down for two laps. When walking on a treadmill, increase the incline for two minutes, then lower the incline for one minute. Invite a friend to join you on a bike ride and follow them on their favorite route.