Try Doing Your Cardio Workouts at Home

Some people who want to start exercising prefer to do cardio exercises at home. This could be because they don't feel comfortable joining a gym, either they cannot afford the gym fees or they simply want to reach a certain level before opting for a gym membership.

The truth is that while a gym may have lots of cardio equipment, you can certainly reach high levels of fitness by doing cardio workouts at home.

There are a number of methods that you can use to increase your cardio fitness and here are just a few to get you thinking.

Using a treadmill is a great method to get fit, you can use it for walking or running all in the comfort of your own home. The positives are that you won't have to feel self conscious as you would if you were running outside. The downside is that a treadmill can be costly, but if you can afford it, it will be a great investment.

A stationary bike is another great piece of equipment. The positives are that you won't get hit by a car, you can place it front of your television and start pedalling, and you can pick up a stationary bike pretty cheaply these days. There is no real downside to this equipment.

Using a rowing machine to do your cardio workouts at home is a great method. The rowing machine will work all areas of your body and you will burn a lot of calories by using it. Again there is no downside to this product and it can also be purchased cheaply.

You can buy a workout dvd and follow the steps on your television. This is a good way to improve your cardio fitness. Just make sure that you buy a dvd that is going to work you, be wary of some of the celebrity workout dvds out there which entail you waving your arms and legs around while putting on lipstick.

If you really want to save money, buy a skipping rope. This is one of the simplest bits of equipment that you will ever use, but do not underestimate the results that skipping can provide. Remember that skipping is a staple of a boxer's training program, and boxers are some of the fittest people on the planet. There's a reason that they skip.

If you don't want to spend any money at all then try stair climbing. Just walk up and down your stairs for 10-20 minutes and see how you feel afterwards, this is one of the best cardio workouts at home that you can do, it will get your blood pumping, your lungs panting, and improve your heart, best of all it's free.

Apart from all these methods there are lots of other exercises you can do just using your body. You could do squats, squat thrusts, running on the spot, dancing, jumping, and many more.

The thing about doing cardio workouts at home is all about willpower and motivation. Decide what you are going to do, make a plan and write it down, then stick to it until it becomes a habit, just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower.

Don't ever think about your workouts with dread, just think of them as something that has to be done for your own health and welfare. No negotiations, no ' I can't find the time today', and don't ever put them off for any reason (unless you are ill).

You can get all the benefits from doing your cardio workouts at home, you don't need expensive equipment or to join a gym, all you need is to make the decision and start.