Cardio exercise is an extremely important part of your fitness routine no matter how much you may dislike doing it. At one point or another we all dread doing our cardio, maybe because we are tired or because we simply can’t stand the sight of a treadmill. Unfortunately cardio is a very important part of being fit and healthy and doing cardio has the following five benefits.

1. It burns fat & calories. Cardio is the best way to burn fat and calories. If you are trying to lose weight, doing cardio for longer periods of time and decreasing the amount of calories you consume should give the results you are looking for. Exercising may even increase your metabolism, helping you to lose more weight no matter what you are doing.

2. It increases bone mass. Exercise, especially cardio, can increase bone mass and prevent osteoporosis. Women and people over the age of 60 can benefit from cardio because this group is more subject to brittle bones.

3. It tones your body. Cardio not only burns fat but it tones your muscles. Regular exercise such as running or swimming will show results in as little time as a few weeks. Your muscles will have more definition and because of the amount of fat it burns you will not only feel a difference, you will actually be able to see it.

4. It strengthens your heart & lungs. Cardio exercise is any type of exercise that works your heart and lungs. With working out these important organs you will also benefit from improved blood cholesterol levels, improved heart function, and greater endurance.

5. It relieves stress. Exercise is one of the best forms of stress and anxiety relief. When you are exercising the body releases feel good chemicals which can last for hours afterwards. You will also start feeling better about yourself after exercising regularly.

To get started on a regular cardio exercise program try to ease into it with short jogs, trying out the elliptical machine at the gym, or joining a class such as spin class or aerobics.