Gym Cardio

[Stellaris22]

I do two strength training sessions a week with my PT, plus a cycle, Pump and LBT class throughout the week.

I do an extra two sessions by myself which usually consist of treadmill, rowing and functional training circuits.

I am not a fan of running as I find it boring so avoid exercises I don’t enjoy to avoid being put off exercise.

Are there any cardio routines anyone can recommend that can be done at the gym?

Do you not count the treadmill and rowing as cardio?

I would, and I also consider 6x exercise a week more than enough!

I count rowing and treadmill as more of a warm up, then I will spend time in the functional area doing circuits eg renegade row, floor press, kettle ball swings, seated crunches. But I’d like to switch these sessions to include cardio routines to help weight loss and fitness but my knowledge is more around strength training.

Can your pt not set you something?
For weight loss I prefer LISS (low intensity steady state) eg a pace at which you can maintain a conversation for 30-60 mins. Could even just walk.
For fitness HIIT is better (high intensity interval training). What I find a lot of HIIT classes miss is the interval part - you need the rest portion in order to be able to work at a high enough intensity. Try tabata.
If you want to test you fitness then can’t beat Mikko’s Triangle, if your gym has the equipment.

When I started out with my PT we did a mix of strength training and cardio, but as I prefer strength training and this is where I find expertise is more needed (correct form etc) we focus on this in our sessions, been with the PT for six months now. I’ll ask about being shown cardio moves for my circuits.

I’ll have a look at LISS as that could be beneficial and I have been putting off trying circuits/burn it classes which I could swap for one of my solo sessions.

Do HIIT by integrating your cardio intervals with your functional training / circuits rather than doing them in isolated blocks as you seem to be at the moment.

So, as an example, a 6 min block with a 400 metre ski buy-in, then a mini circuit of 10 KB swings, 10 lunges, 100 metre ski and repeat until 6 mins is over.

Or a 6 min block with 10 calories on the bike, 2 burpees, 8 bike calories, 4 burpees, 6 bike calories, 6 burpees, 4 bike calories, 8 burpees, 2 bike calories, 10 burpees and then back up the ladder again.