Cardio at the gym?

[inabranstonpickle]

I've been slowly increasing my fitness. I'm slightly overweight (about 10lbs over a healthy BMI) and am trying to be healthy!

I used to be quite fit but illness, then life got in the way. However I have been pleased with my attempts. I generally walk on an incline at a fast pace for half an hour and go on the rowing machine, however the step machine kills me! I can't do longer than five minutes!

Any ideas as to how I can build myself up?

Walking fast on an incline so you get sweaty and out of breath is a great start. The trick is to push yourself each time.

If you made yourself do 5 then 6, 7, 8 minutes on the stepper you would so build up tolerance.

Good for you, go girlfriend. [cringe]

What about using a cross trainer machine?

There is also the option of interval training: this is where you do an exercise (say box jumps) for 20 seconds, rest for 10, exercise for 20, rest for 10, and so for 4 minutes (this is the Tabata protocol). It's a quick way of increasing your fitness level. Otherwise, making your own circuit using any exercises boxers use (burpee jumps, skipping rope) builds fitness very fast and is a great cardio workout. And also, not repeating the same exercises day after day.

I'm definitely repeating them at the moment!

I'll try 5 minutes in the stepper then :) even though it kills me

Definitely try interval training- a great way to build up fitness.

Thank you, I'll try to give that a go tomorrow :)

you could alternate 5 mins on the stepper with say 10 mins uphill on the runner?

Yy to alternating stepper, as Suzanne said.

You can google high intensity intervals, circuits or Tabata (all work on the same principle) - there are loads of videos on you tube an blogs with ideas for what kinds of exercise sets to do.

IMO it also works a lot better if you download a free timer app if you have a smart phone. They always beep when you need to move on to the next interval so you don't have to keep watching the clock!

When you walk uphill on the treadmill are you holding on? I'm just amazed by the amount of people who do, and they're making it so much easier for themselves they're not getting the full workout by any means at all.

Couch to 5k? You can do it on a treadmill if you prefer to exercise indoors. I've heard of plenty of people who started it over 'healthy' BMI.

I never hold on. I'm like you and don't really understand why people do.

Couch to 5k is out of the question unfortunately as I really cannot run (please don't let this statement be followed by posts and posts of people arguing that I can; I can't! )

My BMI is only 26.4 - not exactly morbidly obese! I'm not really unhappy with my weight, I just want to increase my fitness levels :)

Absolutely DON'T hold on, totally defeats the object of the incline!

I just said I never hold on

If you check the time of our respective posts you will see that they very nearly coincided, I'd not seen your reply when I made my post

Fair enough Suzanne :)

I see sooo many people with the treadmill on max incline but hanging on to the handles for dear life

Madness! :o

Mine isn't on max incline. I usually put it on an incline of 2.5/3 which isn't loads but I walk at a very brisk pace (just below the point where I'd have to jog.) I generally walk like this for about 25 minutes then put the incline down to flat and walk it out - still fast but stops any calf aching :) this in it's entirety takes about 35 minutes.

Then I go on the rowing machine for 15 minutes.

I find max incline rather uncomfortable tbh!

Don't try tabata if you aren't fit OP, its amazing but you only get the benefit if you are very fit to begin with. Intervals on the stair climber or rower are a good idea though, as well as more incline walking.