How Important Is Cardiovascular Cross-Training? Part 4 by Michael George

Here is the fourth in a series of five training blog posts by celebrity trainer and Harbinger friend Michael George. Whenever possible, we like to bring you some of the top fitness experts in the country, like Michael, who trains celebrities, athletes and just regular folks, too!

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-@HarbingerFit

Variety Is The Spice of A Workout Routine

by Michael George, BS, NASM, ACE, AFAA

As human beings we are naturally creatures of habit, continually striving for stability and consistency. In your workout routine, however continually repeating the same cardiovascular exercise is also the quickest way to reach workout boredom. We are all motivated by pain and pleasure. The harder it is to do something, the less apt we are to do it. If you are like most people you’re not exactly jumping for joy when it comes time to do the cardio portion of your workout to begin with. So why make it more difficult?

If you change activities on a regular basis you will find it much easier to do your cardio work more effectively. You can split up your time on various cardio machines or activities you participate in. Instead of doing 30 minutes on one activity, do 15 minutes on two separate cardio machines or activities.

In line with changing up your cardio activities you can choose a different activity such as jumping rope. You can use Harbinger’s speed rope for a quick cardio blast, or, for an even harder arm workout, you can use Harbinger's weighted PVC rope. Jumping rope is one of the best cardio activities you can participate in and the easiest cardio component to travel with. You can take it almost anywhere so there is no longer an excuse not do you cardio activity.

We have all experienced that ever-dreaded plateau where we just can’t seem to make any significant gains. This is especially noticeable if you’re trying to lose a few extra pounds. Changing cardio activities can be one of the solutions. When an activity becomes routine we tend to slack off or not push as hard, which in turn limits our progress. It is necessary to gradually and consistently push our body to work a little harder. Over time your body becomes stronger with greater stamina. It takes a little harder work to keep your body progressing.