Goals of Cardio?

[grnmchn]

Obviously when doing cardio, your goal is to burn calories to lose weight. But when you are actually on the treadmill, eliptical, stepper, etc; what are you looking to achieve each session? Is it the length of time spent on the machine? Is it the amount of calories burned in a session? Is it the distance? What are everyone's thoughts?

[Shibby]

Not everyone's goal is primarily to burn calories and loose weight. Some are trying to strengthen they cardiovascular system. That's why there are many different target heart rates depending on what you are trying to acomplish.

For me I go a set time and adjust the intensity as needed. My goal is to drop some weight but also to be stronger with my endurance. I love to playing basketball and idolize Steve Nash's ability to play 48 minutes without looking tired.

[grnmchn]

So your main focus is time, but target heart rate is something you look to improve for cardiovascular reasons. Thanks. Anyone else use a different method or have a different perspective?

[Scrumhalf]

If you want to improve endurance, try interval training that ranges from aerobic to anaerobic repeatedly. It is a well-known technique from the track world, called fartlek.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek

It can be adapted easily to other forms of training and most treadmills, stairmasters, etc. have a setting for interval training (of course you can do it on the sidewalk as well).

In my rugby playing days, it was crucially important to do fartlek training to get endurance to play an 40 minute half as well as to have that 'kick' to turn on the jets and run without feeling that your lungs are going to explode.

[mr8907]

doing intervals of fast a min slow a min X20 min one day then doing 25-30 min of cardio(no intervals) then next then starting again has worked wonders for me. i got hurt at work and i couldnt go to the gym for a few months and i blew up to about 230lbs so when i was able to hit the gym again in about 3 months i got down to 200lbs and i look leaner now than i did when i was in the 180's.and weights for me are always a must and i have gotten most of my strength back and my muscles never looked so good. so i prob. did a number on my bf%. hope this helps ya out.