By Coach Shawn
Sustainable Fitness
If you’re someone who wants to prioritize;
- longevity,
- avoiding health risks,
- staying fit for life,
- and managing your weight effectively,
then you understand the importance of maintaining a balanced and sustainable fitness routine.
While short bursts of high-intensity workouts have their place, there’s something to be said about the benefits of occasional long cardio sessions.
In this blog, we’ll explore why incorporating long cardio workouts into your routine can be a valuable asset to your health and well-being.
Heart Health and Endurance:
Long-sustainable pace cardio workouts lasting 20+ minutes such as steady-state runs, rows, bike rides, or even swims, challenge your cardiovascular system and improve heart health.
By gradually increasing your endurance over time, you’ll strengthen your heart muscle, enhance blood circulation, and lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.
Weight Management and Fat Loss:
While short, high-intensity workouts are effective for burning calories and boosting metabolism, longer cardio sessions can be equally beneficial for weight management and fat loss.
Engaging in extended periods of aerobic activity helps your body tap into stored fat for energy, making it an effective tool for shedding excess pounds and maintaining a healthy body composition over time.
Mental Clarity and Stress Relief:
Long cardio workouts provide an opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and engage in mindful movement.
Whether you’re hiking/running on the trails like Sarah Cody, cycling through scenic routes like Brit Kromer, or swimming laps in the pool like Dawn Hunt, these extended sessions allow you to clear your mind, reduce stress levels, and boost your mood through the release of endorphins—the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
Joint Health and Injury Prevention:
Unlike high-impact activities that can put stress on your joints and increase the risk of injury, long cardio workouts are typically low-impact and gentle on the body.
These activities provide a great cardiovascular workout without placing excessive strain on your joints, making them ideal for individuals looking to maintain joint health and prevent injuries as they age.
They give your joints a much needed break from the weights and intensity training.
Building Mental Toughness and Resilience:
Endurance activities require mental fortitude and resilience to push through physical discomfort and fatigue.
By challenging yourself with longer workouts, you’ll develop mental toughness, perseverance, and a sense of accomplishment that can translate into other areas of your life.
Whether it’s overcoming obstacles in your fitness journey or facing challenges in your personal or professional life, the mental strength gained from long cardio sessions can empower you to tackle anything life throws your way.
While short, high-intensity workouts have their benefits, don’t underestimate the power of occasional long cardio sessions in your fitness routine.
Whether you’re aiming to improve heart health, manage your weight, reduce stress, or build mental resilience, incorporating longer workouts into your regimen can be a valuable investment in your long-term health and well-being.
So when you see those, less sexy looking longer workouts, such as 5k Row, 3 mile run or 250 calorie assault bike…
Keep in mind the big picture:
- longevity,
- avoiding health risks,
- staying fit for life,
- and managing your weight effectively.
Plus – without realizing it you’ll be building a fitness capacity where you’ll get less tired doing ordinary day tasks and recover faster from and within high intensity training.
If you’re new here, and want to IMPROVE your health and body composition simply BOOK a FREE intro.
