If I had to say there was one type of exercise that I absolutely despise it is probably cardio. That is probably not the sentence you were expecting me to start with, but I feel I had to say it since I know many of you out there feel the same. I think my bad feeling towards cardio is more of a mental thing than anything physical, but to me there is nothing more boring than doing cardiovascular activity.

However, I also know that if I want to continue a good weight loss exercise program than I need to incorporate cardio into my routines at least three days a week for a minimum of twenty minutes per day. What I have found is that although many think of cardio as doing aerobics, running or jogging on a treadmill, there are many of other types of cardio that you can do to keep it fresh and fun.

If you belong to a gym than chances are you have a plethora of machines to choose from like stair masters, elliptical trainers, treadmills, stationary bikes and rowing machines. You are in a very fortunate situation. I have found that use of all of these machines will keep you motivated to doing your cardio routine. For example, on Mondays you could do the rowing machine, Wednesdays the treadmill, Fridays the stair master and then on your next week, mix it up and throw in something new.

This keeps it constantly changing and in turn seems like it is new and fresh. Just remember to perform twenty minutes of whatever you do, vigorously, for three days out of the week.

There is no need to worry just because you do not have a gym membership. You still have plenty of options. You could take a brisk walk or jog in your neighborhood. You could jump on your bike and take a nice, yet brisk, ride, or you can hit the local park and partake in a basketball game or something along those lines.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to making sure you get your twenty minutes of cardio in at least three times per week. All you need to do is find out what you like, what keeps you motivated and then do it. A friend of mine joined a local basketball league for guys his age. He plays twice a week and then on his third day he rides his bike for twenty minutes. I know a neighbor of mine chops wood. Yes that’s right he chops wood. Since he has a wood burning fireplace, he forgoes the log splitter and cuts all of this wood by hand, well actually he uses an ax, but you get the point. He says it’s a great way for him to get some exercise in and at the same time do something that has to be done before winter sets in.

As you can see there are a variety of cardiovascular activities to choose from. Not all cardio routines have to be cut and dry like jogging or running. Find one or a few that interests you and just go and do it.

Just remember as with any type of exercise routine you should consult with your physician first to make sure you can handle the workload.

About the Author:
Mr. Tucker is the senior editor for Weight Loss Nation, an online resource where you can learn about various weight loss, fitness and nutrition tips.