YORK COUNTY, Pa. — There are many cardio options to choose from, but how do you know which workout is right for you? Jen Winters, the fitness director with the York JCC, gives us a full tour of what's available in this week's FOX43 FitMinute.
First and foremost, it's important to know what type of cardio you are looking to achieve. There are both steady-state or more high-intensity options.
“It could be steady-state, which means that you run for an hour at a certain speed or you jump on a bike or even an elliptical and do 20 seconds on 10 seconds off, and vice versa, and get a quick cardio in and burn the same amount of calories,” Winters said.
Winters says that it's important to check in with your body and assess any injuries or pain points.
For example, running may not be the best if you experience ankle or knee pain, or if your back is sore maybe avoid using the bike. All of this information will help lead to the right machine, and if you are not sure feel free to ask gym staff.
Winters also stresses that if you don't love the movement, you won't keep coming back for more. Try to find an exercise that gets you excited or something that you enjoy doing to keep you consistent.
“We have the treadmill, there is the standing elliptical that’s going to get your arms moving along with your feet. The rowing machine which is also full body, and bikes. We have all different types of bikes from upright to seated to hand and foot bikes, so you can choose your options,” Winters said.
Plus, there is always taking cardio outdoors, or trying body weight movement to change it up!
No matter what you end up choosing, the fitness center staff and trainers are there to assist you. They can show you how a machine works, or even troubleshoot the machine if it's not working properly.
You just got better!