It’s great that you’re doing strength training! We are firm believers in the benefits of resistance training. However, research shows that the fittest people do at least some cardio. Although it’s not necessarily bad to only do strength training, you could be missing out on a lot of benefits from cardio and other types of exercise.
Cardio provides many health benefits, including a lower risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce your resting heart rate, and improve your lung function. Cardio has also been shown to reduce depression and anxiety, help you maintain a healthy weight, and improve your sleep.
If you’re like most people and spend a lot of time sitting during the day, cardio can help counteract some of the negative effects of this sedentary behavior.
If you enjoy doing other activities like running or biking in addition to lifting weights, there is nothing wrong with continuing these activities as long as you take steps to prevent overtraining (see below). If you don’t enjoy cardio but want to include it in your routine for health or other reasons, start small and gradually work up to something more challenging.
How to do more cardio
There are lots of ways to add cardio into your daily routine without stressing too much:
1. Power walk on your lunch break
This one is easy: Put on your comfiest leggings, grab a friend (or go solo) and get moving. Even just 20-30 minutes of movement can make a huge difference in your day.
2. Take the stairs
Instead of standing in line for the elevator, climb the stairs to the office or to your apartment. This is a great way to get some exercise in on days when you don’t feel like going out for a run.
3. Do jumping jacks during commercial breaks
Commercials are long and boring, we know—but they’re also a great opportunity to sneak in some cardio while you’re watching TV. Every time an ad comes on, stand up and do some jumping jacks or high knees! You may look silly to those around you, but hey—at least you’re working out!
