I hate cardio. Help.

[Andtheworldwentwhite]

I have really tried to enjoy cardio. But I find it really boring. I cannot run because of my bladder. Ditto swimming. I just get really bored and find it all really repetitive.

never thought I would be a weights girl. But I am. How much cardio do I need to do a week? I am on my feet all day moving around. And I walk three dogs seperate three to four days week. So I’m not sat on my bum all day.

what can I do to make this better.

Yeh me too.

Need to do for what though? What you need to do depends on why you want to do it.

Do you need to do any more?

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/

If you love weights and do them regularly, you are ticking the strength box. You may well be meeting the cardio guidelines with your dog walks. If not, maybe you could include some hills or go a bit faster/longer?

If you wanted to add something in, I would do some very short interval sessions on the cross-trainer or bike at the gym (assume you go to the gym for the weights), or a short class that is interval-based (bootcamp, circuits, boxing etc - there are lots of these online if you don't go to a gym or they don't offer one). A little of that goes a long way.

Is the bladder issue permanent? If exercises or physio can help with that I would get it sorted to increase your options in the future.

If you are training strength regularly and walking lots, and enjoying them, and in good health, you are doing well - I wouldn't worry too much!

My bladder issues are permanent sadly. We don’t have the best heart health in my family. So it was something I wanted to keep going. But I do struggle with it. I just find it boring.
i don’t like the the classes at the gym. But thinking maybe I can try a few hit classes at home.

when you walk do you get slightly out of breath and warm? if yes, that's great.

rowing is great for both strength and cardio.
elyptical machine?

podcasts or music help against boredom imo

@bloodredfeaturewall i do with the first dog as he walks so blinking fast 😂 the other two not so much.

sounds like you are doing great then :)

I’m a big fan of HIIT type stuff so med ball slams, step ups etc. ski erg is a great machine with a smaller footprint than cross trainers etc for home use

Can you do a sort of strength-based conditioning workout twice a week? Or a HIIT session twice a week? Thats all it would take.

If you can’t run, what about 15 minute HIIT or metcon (metabolic conditioning) rounds.

SkiErg intervals - 45 seconds on, rest 15 seconds. 15 rounds. Get your stroke rate over 800

Pump class - it’s really cardio with light weights

Try to combine strength and cardio: Try a dumb bell complex that involves maybe 10 thrusters, 10 devils press, and 10 hang cleans. Just do it with quite light weights - no heavier than 10 kilo dumb bells and do AMRAP for4 minutes, rest for a minute then go again. Do 3 rounds.

Or sled pushes if your gym has a sled and track. Only load about 60 k and then do 5 pushes there and back at a bit of speed - not quite running. Then rest for a minute, then go again.

Of course, the other way to do it is to do steady state Zone2 cardio training. But I don’t know very much about that. I guess it’s about keeping your HR steady over a longer period of time. Cycling for 40 minutes while watching a video? And keeping an eye on your HR?

Another recommendation for body pump. I hate cardio and I don’t hate this

I totally get it...
cardio can feel boring, especially when it's repetitive! Since you're already walking your dogs and being on your feet, you're staying active, which is great. For general health, maybe aim for 150 minutes of moderate cardio a week, but that doesn't have to be traditional running or swimming. You could try mixing things up with activities like cycling, dancing, or interval training to make it more interesting. You can also combine cardio with your weight training, like circuit workouts, to keep it dynamic and fun!

Spinning, short and sharp and very efficient.

Bone conduction earphones for swimming.

Les Mills... combat, pump, step, attack. Fun and motivating. Their app is great but gym classes are better.

Also zumba