Which cardiovascular activity is the most effective?

Add some variety and make sure you actively engage in an activity every day

A lot of people ask me what cardiovascular activity is the most effective. So much of the answer depends upon the person and what their body is accustomed to. For example, for someone who runs or walks daily, that activity is easy for them. If they aren’t a good swimmer and they spend 30 minutes in the pool swimming laps, they might burn more energy swimming than running for the same period of time. While the answer is different person to person, it is best to do a variety of cardiovascular activities.

If you plan on going to the gym to work out, you might want to divide it up and spend an equal amount of time on the bike, elliptical and treadmill. Or you may decide to spend time on the treadmill one day then the bike the next. Each mode of exercise works your muscles differently and has different advantages and disadvantages. For example, running is great because running puts a lot of stress on your bones and joints. This stress causes your bones to become stronger. On the flip side, too much running can wear out the joints in your knees, hips, low back and ankles. The bike is great because you can rest your body weight on the seat of your bike so there is very little stress on your bones and joints.

The problem with the bike is there is very little stress on your bones and joints so you aren’t doing your bone density any favours and you aren’t likely going to burn as many calories as you will if you were running. Doing the same activity day in and day out can get monotonous, so keep it fresh. Add some variety and make sure you actively engage in an activity every day that will increase your heart rate for at least 20 minutes.

Until next time, keep Fit ‘N’ Well.