Goooood morning! I hope you had a lovely, relaxing weekend and are recharged for a good week!
So…let’s talk cardio. (Ugh, first thing on a Monday? I know.) Cardio is great for weight loss, but it can be totally boring. Some days it’s hard to stay motivated the whole time and not just watch the clock tick down every single minute. So if you’re not in the mood, here’s a way to make it go a little quicker.
If you need a little something to help you eek out 30 minutes of cardio, do a “5-10-15 Routine.”
Start by doing five minutes on a machine that gets your heart rate up but is not punishing. I think it’s good to start with five minutes of jogging because it gets you warmed up quickly.
Next, hop on a different machine for ten minutes. Choose your hardest form of cardio and go at a pace you can sustain for the whole ten, whether it’s the bike at a high resistance or, my personal nemesis, the TreadClimber. Really push yourself here; it’s only 10 minutes, so give it your all! Putting it in the middle like this means you have loads of energy to get through it, and it’s great to get it over with.
Switch to another machine and cruise for 15 minutes. Mix up your pace however you like in the 15–whether it’s doing intervals or sticking with a steady one. It should not be easy but you shouldn’t be begging for mercy. (Unless of course you want to, and then, by all means, don’t let me stop you).
And, just like that, you’re done!
If you want the time to fly while you burn serious calories, do a “9-12-18 Routine.” Follow the same instructions as above, but do two minutes of high-intensity cardio (either jumping rope, jumping jacks, or sprints) after each bout on the machine. This will kill 45 minutes before you’ve even had time to think about it!
I love doing a pyramid scheme workout, because it can force you to get acquainted with new equipment (show a little love for the rowing machine or something). It works best at a gym, but if you work out at home, you can definitely accommodate. Start with five minutes of calisthenics (one minute each of jumping jacks, jumping squats, push-ups, running in place, and running in place with high knees), then do a ten minute run, and a 15 minute walk (or vice versa).
Cardio can easily become something we get used to and stop putting thought into. But by mixing it up with a routine like this, you can break out of a workout rut or break through a plateau on the scale. Cardio does not have to be boring!
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