Cardio: how much should you be doing?

You should be doing how much cardio a week?!

Before learning how much cardio we should be doing a week lets define “cardio”.

Cardio refers to our cardiovascular + respiratory systems which have to do with our heart + lungs. Keeping these systems working efficiently is crucial to live a long prosperous life. The primary function of the cardiovascular system during aerobic exercise (aka cardio exercises) are to deliver oxygen + other nutrients to the working muscles + remove waste. 

How do we work our cardiovascular/respiratory systems + keep them healthy while working towards our goals?

Well, it depends. It depends on the current shape of your systems + your goals. Someone who is training for a 5k is going to have different needs than someone who wants to lose weight. But how much do YOU need?

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans it is recommended to get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic (cardio) activity a week. What does that look like? ~20 minutes a day walking, rowing, running, biking, elliptical, etc – the list goes on and on.

This is just a recommendation for the average person. If you’re curious about how much cardio YOU should be doing comment, DM me or shoot me an email.

References:Haff, G.G., Triplett, N.T. (2016). Essentials of strength training and conditioning (4th ed.). Human Kinetics.