We are all aware that to reduce weight, we must stick to a cardiovascular or cardio workout besides following a nutritious diet plan. Cardio exercises have many benefits, including burning calories, helping the heart grow stronger, and increasing lung capacity. They contribute to overall fitness and weight loss, and also help in relieving stress.

Brisk walking, running, swimming, bicycling and tennis are some of the common cardio exercises. Jogging is often considered to be the perfect cardio workout, as it places less stress on your joints as compared to some other workouts.

The elliptical machine is a popular device for indoor cardio workouts, and helps people shed more calories as compared to other cardio equipments. This machine also places less impact or stress on joints.

The common treadmill is also a good device for walking and running indoors. If cardio machines aren’t your thing, you can use the stair climber in your home. Climbing stairs is a good cardio exercise, and is particularly beneficial for the leg muscles. Make sure you include interval training in your cardio workouts, as this would burn almost three times more calories within a third of the time.

All cardio exercises burn calories and also help in strengthening your stamina. They are especially helpful for the lungs and heart, and prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases or heart attacks.

As a word of caution, it is always important to perform these workouts at an average level, because doing them rigorously would result in your body burning carbohydrates first. This stems from the fact that your blood needs oxygen, and during rigorous workouts, oxygen in the blood runs low. The goal of cardio exercises should be to keep sufficient oxygen in your blood, so that only fat gets burned. If you are just starting out, perform cardio workouts for thirty minutes, thrice a week. You can increase the exercise duration to an hour once your body gets accustomed to the 30 minute routine. Consult your physician immediately if you think your exercise routine is taking a toll on you in any way.

As you progress with your cardio exercises, you would find yourself a fitter person. Never be complacent with the results and give up on your fitness regime, because when you do, you will regain far more calories than what you initially lost.