Cycling/Running/Swimming which do you prefer for keeping fit

Gym

Mountain Biking and Ashtanga Yoga

running because it's easy/convenient to do anywhere. but i do not particularly enjoy it

When I was younger, running, cycling and jumping rope where my main sources for cardio! Now, I've replaced cycling with circuit training.

Me either, I just do a 2mile run/jog in the morning for a warm-up. I get the bulk of my cardio through circuit training and jumping rope. I bought an elliptical a few years back, I got bored with it. It's sitting in the corner collecting dust, gonna see if I can get rid of it on ebay.

Definitely swimming. In fact it's one of the two sports I pursued professionally until I got so busied with life and immediately gained A LOT of weight as a result. I'm planning on restarting my swimming career this summer. Get myself a lifeguard license.

Cycling, always hated it even as a kid (even though I used to do a lot of cycling as a kid).

Running is the best activity in existence if you're up for it though.

The swimming will be the best thing that will get you back in shape the fastest and good luck getting your license.

I do neither at the moment, so I'm a little out of shape.

Really need to start going gym again, I normally run a lot.

Cycling or swimming are probably better for you than running. Running tears up your hips, ankles, knees, and shins. If I run, it's HIIT style. Too much impact on running, especially if you have the wrong shoes or a poor stride. I will say that I do miss the "runner's high".

Strongly disagree

"Running has some potentially serious disadvantages that you should consider before choosing to do it on a regular basis. The chance of injury is greater than for any of the other aerobic activities listed here. Running traumatizes the body, especially joints in the legs, knees, and back, as well as the kidneys. You can minimize this possibility by taking several precautions. Never run on concrete. If possible, run on cinder tracks or dirt paths. Asphalt is not as bad as concrete but not as good as dirt. Always wear well-made running shoes designed to minimize shock to the joints, and get a new pair whenever your present ones start to wear out. Women should wear athletic bras or other breast supports. Warm up before you start a run, not by stretching but by running in slow motion.".

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02928/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Running.html

If you're a weightlifter, few things will sap muscle mass or strength than long distance running. IMO, a brisk walk on a treadmill at a steep incline trumps running and swimming is vastly superior.

swimming if you can avoid crowded pools or pools that kids use (because they're always pissing and shitting and screaming and generally just in the way), preferably a gym pool that isn't overused by old people doing water aerobics and has multiple dedicated lap lanes, to accommodate different people of different speeds, and if there's ever one of those people just kick-boarding in the lap lane that just ruins it for everyone

running and cycling though might be better as you can do it in more places, cities are increasingly accommodating roadways to cyclists so that's a big plus, never been to into it myself but have known people to be big on biking everywhere just for general transportation and they stay fit as hell, but being overweight and a slow runner I prefer to find a nice secluded area to do my running

I like running best. I run 20-30 miles a week + EA Active 2 to stay in shape. Works awesome for me!

Brisk walking is a very good option too and often overlooked.

Cycling, I do it everyday for at least an hour. Love it.

I've always ran when it came to staying fit. I'm worried that if I went swimming, I would dislocate my shoulder.

Well, you could consider that a form of cardio, it does pump up your heart consistently for a period of time!! lol

Heading to coach the swim team as we speak.

Punching bag...kicks, knees, elbows & punch. & skipping/jump rope :P

At the gym:

• 30 minutes on the elliptical
• 30 minutes on the treadmill (6 mph)
• 100 free throws (I usually make 70%)
• basketball game - 15 pts best of 3 or a few games of 21. Alternative is 30 minutes on a stationary bike

At home:

• 30 pushups/min
• 50 sit-ups/min
• juggle a futbol

I go swimming too. But, I don't count it as part of my exercise.

Running sucks, you're just asking for chronic pain when you get in your 40s and older.

@jun_aka_pekto: "100 free throws (I usually make 70%)

basketball game - 15 pts best of 3 or a few games of 21. Alternative is 30 "

Are you one of the top players in the gym?

Anyway, I get up in the mornings and walk for an 1 or 2.

Nope. Not even close. But, if someone chooses to ignore me and leave me open, I have a very good chance of making the shot.

I bike to get to class and for exercise. Love swimming when I get the chance.

This too.

I cycle 10 miles or so on a recumbent bike, but my hard cardio is boxing. Usually working the heavy bag or double end bag for 12-15 rds.

If I had to choose one, cycling
But gym and yoga are my exercise of choice

Fast walking in park ( early morning )

Biking and running, and occasionally the rowing machine. I don't like swimming in public pools - the way I see it, they are essentially huge bathtubs you share with random (probably dirty) strangers.

@indzman: "Fast walking"

?

Cycling and swimming

Never been a fan of running , never actually seen the point of it unless you are running to a hot chick who just can´t keep her hands off you.

Yeah, but you have to do it quite furiously to get a good workout.

I prefer running, though I occasionally cycle.

Yep, not jogging per se. Very fast walking, good cardio exercise for those who run out of stamina from jogging :)

http://www.allyou.com/diet-fitness/power-walking

Cycling above both running and swimming. I like getting in the water but not for exercising. My knee hurts for weeks when I run for an hour. Cycling is perfect, I get a good sweat in, travel farther, it's enjoyable. Also lost 45lbs on a elliptical in 2 months.

Well, I do cycling and running, sooooo....

If I had to choose between those 2, cycling would hands down be my preferred method of doing cardio....

@playmynutz: "my knee hurts for weeks when I run for an hour."

Come on you're a young man.

@PSP107: In an unrelated incident it turns out I had a fractured bone there, doc says it's forming callus and should heal in a couple more weeks, young and reckless!

Seems like we're seeing more and more older runners (60s and up). Maybe good technique/shoes can help mitigate this issue. Genetics, too, I run a bit and have better knees than my wife who doesn't run.

@playmynutz:

Speedy recovery will kick in.

The people I know who have been running for decades have all kinds of feet/knee/hip problems directly related to said running. In fact, most runners will be more than happy to talk about their related ailments. It's like pride for them.

Granted, running on natural terrain may be different, but sidewalks/roads will kill you from the inside out.

Personally, I do enough physical labor that I don't have to worry about an exercise regimen. I don't see how people sit in front of TV/Netflix/PC for hours a day, I gotta get out and get busy or I start pacing.

Cycling>Swimming>Running

I like swiming, but have not pool near me now (so sad) I ride just for fun when the wheather let me. I have treadmill , couse I like training only at home. For running acclimation, a treadmill is best. For hills and mountain running simulation I use varied treadmill incline.

weightlifting. I hate cardio, the only time I do cardio is for about 10-15 minutes before lifting weights to get my heart rate up. Then maybe 10 minutes at the end to cooldown.

I walk about 60 miles a week at my job, I don't need to do more cardio.

I do enjoy swimming, but that's just because swimming is fun and the cardio aspect is incidental. I am much too fat right now to take off my shirt in front of anyone, though :(

Someday!

You walk 6 miles to work each day? By choice? Have you considered a bike?

Out of the options, running. But I like to hit the gym more than those.

Usually a 3-4 mile walk. I do like a night wander, occasionally see a badger or a deer which is always awesome.

I started running recently and I take my 2 year old husky along - she just does a kind of fast walking pace as I jog. 2 weeks ago I could barely run a mile without wanting to drop dead. Last night we ran 2 miles and I only stopped running because the mosquitoes started getting bad. I was killing two or three at a time as I watched them land me in small groups. Last night was also the first night I didn't experience shin splints (how I hate them). Shin splints, you don't get them cycling and they were so bad the first week of running I almost stopped completely....fucking shin splints. Glad I've stuck with it and hopefully the shin splints are completely behind me now.

no, I walk tenmiles atwork every day. 10+ hours on my feet every day = 20,000+ steps a day. 20,000 steps = 10 miles. That's also in boots so I probably have a few extra pounds of leather and rubber attached to my feet (I'm a size 14 H foot) so that adds some resistance as well.

That's a light day, too, which is why I rounded up to 60 miles a week. Maybe 50 is more realistic on average but I've been putting in a lot of overtime and working on my days off lately.

Keep in mind that it is not a continuous 10 mile trek; I generally get there and I have to walk around and do a lot of back and forth stuff so I generally put in 5-6 miles by the time 9AM rolls around (I get there are 5AM), then I stand and walk around doing various tasks for the next 5+ hours. Often I need to go to the shop and warehouse which is a good 1/4 mile away from my department.

And that's just the walking. On any given day I have to move about 4-6 tons of stuff 50 pounds at a time, generally from floor level to chest height. We have a forklift but I still need to move the bags around off the pallets and into various areas. It's also a good 20+ degrees warmer in the area I work so on a day like today my workspace is 110 degrees (and humid, too!). I also have to lift and move 2" hoses (think fireman hoses, but thicker, more rigid, and heavier) around a lot, bend and stoop, and do any number of other physical tasks.

If I could just get my eating under control I'd drop all this extra weight I'm carrying lol.

Running/Weight Lifting are my things. I would like to swim but I don't have access to a pool where I can actually do more than just relax and cycling doesn't have anywhere near the same feel as swimming/running.