Hi everyone! I could use your collective knowledge: I have two months to boost my cardio fitness before my favorite band’s comeback tour, and I want to be able to dance like crazy for their entire hour-plus set. What’s the quickest way to get fitter?
For context, my current routine includes one day of pole class (strength and endurance), stretch/mobility work, four days of weight training (upper/lower split), and one moderate-intensity cardio day. My workouts are about 45 minutes each. Should I add more cardio sessions to my week? Focus on higher intensity? Or maybe incorporate something small like skipping? If I work up to a few minutes of skipping straight, could I add it after my weight sessions, or do a few sessions throughout the day (I work from home three days a week, so I could fit in a few sessions then)?
I would love to hear any thoughts or experiences you might have!
Not to be obnoxious, but if dancing is the goal, why not just dance? You could even make it more structured by following dance videos or playing dance games.
I completely agree. You could mix in other cardio, but I’d recommend including some dancing. It will also help you identify any muscles that need strengthening or areas that could benefit from mobility work.
My workout routine is pretty similar to yours. I recently added more cardio on my arm/shoulder/back days. I also lift four days a week, doing 45 minutes of weights and 30 minutes of cardio twice a week. I do daily yoga/mobility, usually in the morning and evening, and abs three times a week.
I should probably mention that my 3-year-old loves playing his tickle monster chase game. I think we run about 100 circles around our living room, lol!
Just put on some music and dance. On the days you work from home, take dance breaks. I do that and I don’t even work from home, lol. With what you’re already doing, you can probably dance through their whole set, especially with the adrenaline and excitement of the concert. But the best way to train for dancing is to actually dance, especially the big, jumpy kind you’ll be doing at the concert.
If that’s not your thing, make sure you’re doing some calf work because my calves are always sore after a night of dancing. And don’t forget to choose your shoes wisely.
I agree with dance fitness. If your goal is to dance for several hours straight, dance fitness classes will specifically prepare you for that.
For overall cardio health, I kick-started mine by doing intervals: running for 2 minutes, then walking for 2 minutes, for 30 minutes to an hour. A boxing fitness class was also great for building stamina.
What’s the quickest way to get fitter?