We're going to talk about different cardio workouts today.
If you're like me, cardiovascular workouts get a little boring.
Who wants to stay on the same machine for 30 to 45 minutes straight.
I get pretty bored even when working really hard.
And I'm sure you do too. So, I've come up with a new and exciting way of doing cardiovascular exercise so you are burning more fat from every workout and keeping it fun!
If you're tired of the same old cardio workouts, this is exactly what you need:
The Key to These Different Cardio Workouts is Having a Variety of Cardio Exercises You Can Do
I workout at home. I have several different cardiovascular exercises I can do. You probably have more than you might believe at your own home.
Here are some of the exercises I use at my own home for these different cardio workouts:
Sled Dragging
If you have a sled, you can add weight to the sled and drag it in your yard or along a road. Using a sled is one of my favorite exercises that really builds the leg muscles.
Simply drag the sled behind you by attaching the sled to a connector on the back of a harness through a rope or anything similar. Then walk forward taking large and powerful steps once you are connected to the sled.
Sled Pushing
If the sled you have has tall handles on both sides, you can push the sled. Pushing the sled requires that you get down pretty low to the ground.
If you've ever pushed a sled around for football, this is a similar motion. This is tough work, so get ready to sweat.
Fun but really tough.
Sled Pulling
Simply attach the rope to a straight bar or anything that you can use to pull the sled. Walk backwards while you pull the sled in front of you.
This is another one of my favorites. This exercise really works the calves extra, extra hard.
Jogging
There's nothing new to jogging but try going to different areas.
A change in scenery really helps.
You can pretty much jog anywhere. If you live in a high traffic area, please be safe when crossing roads and streets.
I simply jog around my neighborhood which happens to be on a dead end street so I don't have to worry about traffic.
Sprinting
Measure off an area to sprint in your yard or in front of your home. You can even sprint on a treadmill but I think it's more fun to sprint outside.
Sprinting is a great exercise so give sprinting a shot. Go with a few 40 to 50 yard sprints to start out. You can always add more sprints to your new and different cardio workouts.
You can time yourself to make it a competition each time. Competition always spices things up a bit.
Cycling
I have a Schwinn Road Bike with a trainer that I keep in my basement.
On nice weather days I sometimes like to take it out.
When the weather is bad, I simply use the bicycle trainer in my basement.
Farmers Walk
Simply pick up a pair of dumbbells and start walking. It's called the Farmer's Walk because farmers carry buckets of water, feed, seed, and other things around the farm. I used to do so myself.
This exercise really helps your grip strength too and really stretches out the side deltoids and the upper back.
So if you need to improve grip strength, you might want to try this for a different cardio workout.
Sandbag Carry
This is an exercise many strong man competitors use to help them in their events.
When I was growing up, I had to carry feed bags around all day. My family owned a feed store, and we delivered feed to horse farms all day long.
A sandbag carry is a tough exercise but it's great for increasing your fitness levels. Give this one a shot if you have the equipment needed for the exercise.
Rowing
If you have a rowing machine or a lake close with a rowing boat, you can add this exercise to your different cardio workouts.
Rowing is one of the best full body workouts available.
Enjoy it out there on the water if you're lucky have a row boat and some water near.
Jump Rope
Jumping rope can be a very intense exercise. With some practice, it gets very easy to really pump out the reps.
Get yourself a good jump rope and start incorporating jump rope into your different cardio workouts.
Roller Blading
Ever thought of roller blading as a cardio exercise?
Get outside and get roller blading! It's fun and great exercise.
Set a start and end spot that's safe for each cardio workout… then try to beat your time with each workout. Use proper safety equipment too.
Running Hills
This cardio exercise… I consider to be one of the best available.
Try sprinting up hills. If you think you are in great shape, give this a shot.
If you're just a beginner to exercise, I would save this for later. This can be very tough and very intense depending on the severity of the hill.
Jumping Jacks
Jumping jacks are fun and you don't need any special equipment. I actually use them for warm ups too because they really make you alert and get you ready to lift some heavy weights.
You could set a goal of 50 to 100 jumping jacks for one cardio exercise in your workout. Try to do them faster and faster each workout without stopping.
Mountain Climbers
Mountain climbers are another exercise you can do with no equipment.
I remember having to do these during baseball season. My coach made us do these in between sets of a weight lifting workout. That was brutal.
Not sure what he was going for when mixing the weight training with high intensity cardio exercises.
I don't recommend that at all as I want you going for maximum strength during your weight training. Don't fatigue yourself between weight lifting sets.
Push Ups
If push ups are very easy for you, you can use them during a cardio workout.
If your goal is to do more push ups for some reason like police testing, you could add these as one of your exercises during your cardio workout.
You could possibly set a goal of say 50 push ups and keep going until during your workout until you reach 50.
Body Weight Squats
Any body weight exercise that is easy for you can be incorporated into your cardio workouts.
Squats are one of the best and you need no special equipment for this one.
Don't overdo it here.
Jump Squats
Jump squats is another body weight exercise you can do to add some extra fun to those cardio workouts.
Only use these if you have good squat form.
Body Weight Pull Ups
Pull ups can be done if they are easy for you… If not, you could do low reps for a set and then move onto the next exercise.
Gives you some extra practice doing pull ups and will help you do more of them very soon.
Running Stairs
Here's another very tough and intense exercise.
If you can run stairs for a while, you are in great shape. I highly recommend this for different cardio workouts.
Wheelbarrow Pushing
Pushing a heavy wheelbarrow around is another one of my absolute favorites.
This exercise brings back memories of working out on the farm during my teenage years.
If you have space outside and a good wheelbarrow, you can add weights and get to pushing.
Running Bases
If you're a baseball or softball player…
You can improve on your base running and get a great cardiovascular workout.
Time yourself for some added fun.
Basketball Suicides
Have you ever been on a basketball team before? If so, you've probably ran your share of suicides.
These are great for cardio workouts. You can even set something similar up in your back yard or side yard.
Making Half Court Shot
If you've got a basketball court near (either outside or at your gym), you could set up some type of requirement for you to hit shots as quickly as possible before moving onto the next exercise.
You could make a half court shot. You could hit 10 free throws. Or any combination you want to make.
Now, Here's the Fun Part of These Different Cardio Workouts…
All you need to do is make up your own circuit style cardio workout. These are very fun to do and it gives the feel of an obstacle course or something similar to an obstacle course.
You can even come up with new activities outside like moving things from one location to another as fast as you possibly can. Or pushing things in a wheelbarrow around your yard.
Try hitting a half court shot if you have a basketball court close. You must chase the ball down until you hit the shot.
The possibilities really are endless.
For example… here's one of the recent cardio workouts that I performed:
- Cycling
- Jump Rope
- Sled Pulling
- Running Hills
- Farmers Walk
- Sled Dragging
Here's How You Design Unique and Different Cardio Workouts that are Fun
Choose about 5 different cardio activities. Choose any of the activities I've listed above or make up your own.
Then, set a goal for each of the activities.
For example, if you choose jumping jacks… you must reach 50 jumping jacks before moving on to the next cardio exercise in the circuit. When I choose cycling as an activity, I simply tell myself I must pedal 200 rotations before moving on.
You set your own goals for each cardio exercise in the circuit. You must reach that goal before moving onto the next exercise.
You then give yourself a set amount of time for the entire cardio workout… let's say 20 minutes to perform as many of these circuits as you possibly can.
Every time you perform the same cardio workout for your cardio program, you try to beat the previous workout. If you made it through 9 total exercises last workout, you would strive to beat that the upcoming workout.
Go faster and harder each workout. You are guaranteed to burn body fat.
You can make up an unlimited number of different cardio workouts. Come up with several different workouts and rotate them for your cardio program.
Work on getting better with each workout. As you measure body composition results on a weekly basis, increase total time of workouts when you need to burn more body fat. It's really that simple…
Work hard, get better, and watch the body fat melt away. Make sure you're diet is on track… and make sure you're making progress lifting weights. Your results will be spectacular!
These Different Cardio Workouts Can Be Tough and Intimidating… Use Mental Techniques to Keep Pushing During Your Workouts
These different cardio workouts are fun… they keep you interested in your workout and make you want to push yourself harder at the beginning of each new exercise.
It's fun trying to beat your previous best during a workout. You should always record each workout so you know how far you got during any given workout.
These workouts may be fun and interesting BUT they can be very tough. You must continue to push yourself hard during every workout.
You have to be mentally strong. Visualize yourself succeeding and beating the previous best from each workout.
While you're working out, use any motivation you can to get yourself through the cardio workout. If picturing a tank that can't be stopped mowing over trees and anything in it's path motivates you, then use it!
Your mind is VERY powerful. You must know that you WILL beat your previous best workout. If you believe it, you can achieve it. And that's the truth.
Free Download of Different Cardio Workouts Template You Can Use to Make Your Own Cardio Workout Routine
WLC's Different Cardio Workouts DownloadWLC's Different Cardio Workouts DownloadThe file above includes a cardiovascular exercise log you can print out to keep track of your cardio workouts.
Also included is a template for making and recording progress for different cardio workouts. I hope you have fun with your new cardio workouts.
Best of luck to you and your fat burning efforts. May the fat melt away for you very quickly. Have fun!
Dennis says
Hi Josh, I need your advice on starting a weight lifting routine.
I am 47 years old. I’ve lifted tons of weight in the past. I weigh about 345 lbs, am 5’11” with many physical ailment, especially my knees
I am tying to do as much cardio as I can…until my knees, especially my left one, screams at me! I also have to be careful as my left Achilles tendon is partially torn.
At my work we have an awesome gym.
I also do chest presses, tricep pushes, chest presses, and lat work.
Please help me. I’ve also fallen into the trap of Slim Fast. And it hasn’t worked.
Josh, President of WLC says
Hey Dennis! It’s great to hear from you. I would be more than happy to help you.
How bad are your knees? Can you do certain leg exercises?
I’ve been in the same situation with cardio and my knees a long time ago. I would just keep going until I couldn’t hardly walk at all. I couldn’t walk down stairs at all and would have to use my arms to help lower myself each stair. But I just kept going… that is not recommended! I rested from any high impact cardio for a while. Definitely use low impact cardio. Walking is a great exercise and very healthy for you. Incline walking on a treadmill or finding a hilly neighborhood to walk is great as well.
But enough talking about the cardio…
Cardio is definitely important for you, BUT you really need a great combination of healthy foods, an intelligently designed weight lifting program, and a cardio program.
For example…
Monday: AM Weight Lifting, PM Walk
Tuesday: AM Walk, PM Walk
Wednesday: AM Weight Lifting, PM Walk
Thursday: AM Walk, PM Walk
Friday: AM Weight Lifting, PM Walk
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Rest
Along with that, the foods you eat must be amazing. I don’t mean typical “diet foods.” I don’t use typical diet foods anywhere. I’m talking about real and wholesome food. If you want an example, check out this recipe here on the site:
Healthy Vegetable Beef Soup
You don’t even have to worry about how much protein, carbs, fats you are eating at this time. Overall calorie intake is important BUT you can eat less overall food when you are packing your meals full of foods with higher nutrients. You won’t be hungry either if your body is getting more nutrients!
I think in your case… the food changes will help you the absolute most! But don’t forget the weight lifting and cardio. If you provide me more information, I will further help you. And of course, always make sure your doctor agrees with any program you start or any changes you make.