Off Season Cardio Strategies for Cardiovascular Health and Recovery

Very true. I remember one year I did zero cardio in the winter and the first week of prep cardio nearly killed me. Never again.

Alright, you lot have convinced me. I’ll start adding 15 mins of walking on my off days. Just don't tell my lifting partner lol.

Haha, your secret is safe with us Mike. Your blood pressure will thank you too.

Does anyone do their cardio first thing in the morning? I find it's the only way to make sure it actually gets done.

I prefer post-workout. I’m already at the gym and the blood is already moving. Plus, I like the extra sleep in the morning.

I’m a morning guy. It sets the tone for the day and keeps me from making poor food choices at breakfast.

I disagree with morning cardio in the off-season. I’d rather use that energy for my actual training session later. I do mine on active recovery days instead.

Active recovery days are perfect for a long walk. Gets the joints moving without any real stress.

Amen to that. Motion is lotion.

Anyone use a wearable to track recovery like a Whoop or Oura? I’ve noticed my HRV is much higher when I keep the cardio in.

I use an Apple Watch. The trends don't lie—resting heart rate drops significantly after about 4 weeks of consistent LISS. Hard to argue with the data.