As I begin to school more often, more rigorously, and over bigger fences, I’m realizing I need to get my own personal fitness in a better position. But… I really dislike running and I live in Texas, meaning it’s hot out a LOT.
Wondering what y’all’s fitness routines are? I’m considering pilates but not sure that helps from a cardio angle!
What about cycling? There’s a lot of options for doing it indoors.
Rebecca
Spinning is really fun and easier on the joints. Elliptical easy on the joints as well.
I love my exercise bike and rebounder(trampoline). My rebounder is instant mood lifter and a great workout.
Swimming is great for cardio if you have access to a 25 or 50 meter pool. And it’s a great way to cool down.
If you’re into strength training and weight lifting, I see a lot of people start with a 15-30 minute walk on the treadmill set to a steep incline. It’s low impact but good cardio. I’m not a runner OR a treadmill person, but I’m down for a good hill-walk. When I go for hikes, I’ve started picking the hillier trails, and I also choose routes when I’m walking my dog that incorporate more hill climbing. I get in some pretty good cardio that way! Helps to live in a mountainous area.
Zumba!
Back when I had a gym membership through work, I was in the best shape, going to Zumba classes 2x a week.
I had the same experience moving up. Running hurts my back, so I got this compact folding exercise bike: https://a.co/d/7Az2WFG. The resistance doesn’t go up super high, so I do my high-intensity intervals standing up. It’s very handy for days when you feel like you just need a quick workout.
Also, search YouTube for “HIIT workout.” There are a lot of good ones that require no equipment and not a lot of time. This is my favorite: https://youtu.be/Ba3qZjzPonI?si=fm41oRo34FiQhnVY
I also hate running mostly because the scenery changes so little and I have arthritis in lower back and hip. I have my own mini gym in my basement. It’s a treadmill, elliptical and rower. 5-6 days a week I work out on them and it varies what I do but average about 8k a day. I like the combination because they all work different muscles in different ways. The rower is an awesome core strength builder. Some days I listen to music and some days I watch the TV that is mounted above the treadmill and rower. I like the digital feedback and the distraction of the music or TV makes it go faster.
I was runner for YEARS. A slow one, but I managed to do 7 half marathons and really leaned into just putting in the miles. Once I found that runners high, I was chasing it all the time.
But then I had knee surgery, which was caused by a congenital back issue, and while my knee is now 100%, my back has had it with running. So I bought a Peloton bike. I LOVE IT. The bike is an awesome cardio workout and you can always find a class to do that suits your mood. I’ve also been diving into strength training on the platform as well. There are great online communities around Peloton so it can be very motivating and fun.
I was a distance runner through university. Then I started having problems with my knees and had to back off/give up running. I would still go for long walks but couldn’t really find the motivation to do much of anything active. When I turned 30 I started swimming and was in the best shape of my adult life. I would swim 2-4 times a week and found it really helped with my cardio, strength, and mental health.
Once covid hit I stopped going to the pool and then a couple years ago the pool I used to go to shut down for extended renovations which ran out of budget so it’s still closed. I could go to another pool that’s further away but I just don’t have the motivation in my life right now… But if I was motivated and looking for low impact, high return options I would definitely recommend swimming!
Second the rower. Great cardio and a really efficient full-body workout. I already have a stationary bike which I also like, but if I had to start over I’d get a rower for sure.
The oldie but goodie Nordic Track cross country ski machine. Pretty easy to find used for under $100
Swimming is a wonderful way to increase your core strength and to work on body alignment. If you haven’t ever been part of a swim program I suggest joining a Masters swim team to make sure you swimming correctly (I had to completely change my strokes as an adult) and because the camaraderie makes it much more fun. When I’m swimming with a group I always swim faster/harder/longer.
Rowing on an Erg is also great exercise, but again, form is important or you can injure yourself. My kids both were collegiate rowers and they used to try and help the people they saw in gyms because their form was so terrible.
I clocked up a lot of aerobics classes and then Zumba over my adult non riding years, and it was fantastic exercise and fun. I would imagine in a hot climate they will have airconditioned dance studios! If your knees and back are good, dance based aerobics are excellent. I moved away from the community center that offered them when I got my horse and now find the barn work is keeping me fit
I third a rower, we have an Erg. You can increase the resistance to build muscle or relax the resistance to get more cardio.
Sign me up for the I hate running club too.
A well-designed strength program can be a decent cardio workout
A cardio workout that’s more agility and strength and core than straight up cardio, is a lot more fun
I’ve been doing all the above for years, and since returning to my workouts after my hip replacement in March, knowing I’ll probably never go back to truly high impact work, don’t really like running seriously but wouldn’t go back to it anyway, this is plenty of cardio
Hello everyone! This is super helpful! @Scribbler + @MissusS I am (alas) a terrible swimmer and while I would love to pursue lessons in the future, pools near me are for the summer months only. I do feel like I’d love it!! Saving it for when we move lol
@FitToBeTied the rowing machine sounds like a perfect fit. Compact enough to fit in my house but robust enough to give a good workout! I’m thinking that, paired with some yoga or pilates, and riding should give a well-rounded workout.
If you are going to go with a rower I recommend the Concept 2 Erg. This is what rowing teams use for indoor training. I have had my Model C for 31 years ( i did have some parts replacements from normal wear and tear). Best to buy directly from the company.
The concept 2 is the model we have as well. Super easy to put together when it arrived. We keep ours on its “end” to take up less floor space when not in use.
The website has helpful workout routines too.
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