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The short days of late fall might not provide enough daylight for long after-work runs, but that doesn't mean you can't reap the benefits of strong "cardio" workouts.
Intense workouts make you breathe harder and get your heart to beat faster. But you can be creative in what counts as cardio-friendly exercise. Raking leaves, hiking in the woods or even biking to the store all fall under the umbrella of a cardio workout as long as you're engaged in the activity at a moderate or intense rate.
How do you know if you're doing light, moderate or vigorous intensity aerobic activities? According to the 2009 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, necessary light daily activities such as shopping, cooking or doing laundry do not fall under the heading of aerobic because the body isn't working hard enough to elevate the heart rate.
Moderate-intensity aerobic activity means you're working hard enough to break a sweat. One way to tell is that you'll be able to talk but not sing the words to your favorite song without stopping.
So, get outside and get moving. And save the singing for the shower.
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