Cardio and weight loss go together

Ever heard of a "cardio workout?" This is a workout that is supposed to get your heart rate up to a point that effectively makes heart muscle stronger as well as helps burn weight (calories) off your body. It's otherwise known as an "aerobic" workout.

Some of my favorites are recumbent biking and elliptical training. These are great low-impact exercises that won't bang up your knees or joints but are excellent for conditioning your heart over time.

Sweating, breathing harder and all the other goodness (yes, it's good!) is great for your heart since beating heart disease is, umm, kind of important these days (especially with the goofy diets many of us have). Want some great examples of aerobic activity? These are popular ones:

• Group exercise classes
• Cycling
• Walking briskly
• Running
• Skating
• Hiking
• Dancing (if done non-stop).