Cardio exercise is defined as exercise that increases heart rate and sweat production by working large muscle groups repetitively. Cardio is also known as aerobic exercise, as it makes your lungs take in more oxygen to fuel your muscles. A lot of popular exercises, such as running, HIIT, boxing, hiking, and spinning are prime examples of cardio. The NHS recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity a week, spread over a number of days.
The benefits of cardio are numerous – weight loss, lowers blood pressure and risk of certain diseases, improved sleep, better mental health and immune system, stronger bones and muscles. The fact that cardio can be free to do, can be done anywhere and can require little equipment are added benefits. However, for a full-body workout, using some form of cardio equipment can be more beneficial and rewarding.
Having cardio equipment in the home can also encourage individuals to work out more, as it negates travelling to the gym and regular gym membership costs. Because the home is a private space, home cardio equipment can be beneficial for those who have social anxiety or don’t enjoy working out outdoors.
What’s the best cardio equipment for home?
When looking to buy cardio equipment for your home, there are many things to consider, such as cost per use, if you have adequate space for it, and if the equipment is the right fit for your fitness wants and needs.
The most popular pieces of cardio equipment include:
- treadmills
- cross-trainers/ellipticals
- upright bikes
Before buying any home cardio equipment, it’s important to do research into which brands and models best suit you and talk to a health professional for guidance on what exercises you should be doing.
How do I take care of my cardio equipment?
To avoid breaking them and expensive repair costs, it’s important to take good care of your cardio equipment.
Cleaning after use, regular maintenance checks, ensuring you’re using the equipment correctly and following product guidelines are the best ways to ensure the performance of your cardio equipment.
Can I do too much cardio?
Overdoing any form of exercise will have negative consequences. It’s a good idea to incorporate some form of moderate cardio every day, such as a lunchtime dance break or evening run, but too much cardio every day can actually do more harm than good.
Those who do too much cardio can begin to lose muscle and slow down their metabolism (making weight loss or maintenance difficult), be more at risk of physical injury, experience heart problems, and see a decrease in the quality of their sleep. It’s important to give the body enough time to rest and recover between workouts in order to gain more benefits.