We talked about the cardio junkie in my last post so that means its time for us to talk about a balanced approach and how to make cardio work for your body.
Cardio works best in conjunction with a few items that you should put on your checklist of balanced health.
Strength training:Cardio without it could impact the joints and increase your risk of injury with high impact activities like running. While the heart is pumping the impact with each step is not absorbed as safely without a good base of muscle mass.
Good Nutrition: Cardio may lower your risk of heart disease but if you have a bad diet in tow your running up hill in more ways than one. To lower your risk of heart disease in one area and raise it in another seems to me like netting 0 . Good nutrition is also good fuel. This means when you run you have optimal energy to put into your workout.
Flexibility: Cardio activities tend to be repetitive motion. Running for example is step after step. You are engaging the hamstring in a concentric ( contraction/tightening) phase more than 50 % of the movement. This emphasis causes tightness in the hamstrings that leads to lower back problems and knee issues for example. Stretching helps too offset tightness in your hamstrings and other areas that get tight and aggravated.
While I have mentioned running more than once I am not discounting its benefits. Keep in mind that running and other on the go activities like bike riding are very accessible so this means they make a good choice. However, repetitive motion needs to be balanced out in conjunction with other things.
Heres hoping your heart is pumped about cardio ,
Andrea
Andrea Page , founder of FITMOM has worked with over 10, 000 women during the childbearing years and beyond. You can access more support at www.newmom101.com or see if there is a FITMOM in your area at www.fitmomfitness.com