You know that cardio exercise is good for your health. But it can be hard to work up the motivation to do it.
If you’re in the camp of folks who are dragging their feet to start working out again, this comic is for you.
Dr. Jayne Morgan, a cardiologist and the vice president of medical affairs at Hello Heart, a cardiovascular health tracking app, answers honest questions about the subject, and explains how to incorporate more heart-pumping movement into your everyday life.
This comic was illustrated by Life Kit editor Malaka Gharib.
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e722f33/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5d%2Fc1%2F400e0bc245e09718d6176ce1b37f%2Fcardio-1.jpg)
/ Malaka Gharib/NPR
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Malaka Gharib/NPR
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/548bf07/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1d%2F0f%2F5d5fae774764be99d89aafaa780b%2Fcardio-2.jpg)
/ Malaka Gharib/NPR
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Malaka Gharib/NPR
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d688f56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F34%2Feb%2F32c349ed4a62876cb1e9cf40b088%2Fcardio-3.jpg)
/ Malaka Gharib/NPR
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Malaka Gharib/NPR
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ff08960/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2F75%2F91514d0d443ca3b95658d899c76d%2Fcardio-4.jpg)
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbae6ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc1%2Fd9%2Fa82fbad749b8a1eac73d1b9a2afe%2Fcardio-5-1.jpg)
/ Malaka Gharib/NPR
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Malaka Gharib/NPR
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af9edad/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F87%2Ffa2801754b17a3c3c7e017d10ef6%2Fcardio-6.jpg)
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d40ca81/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1875+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnpr.brightspotcdn.com%2Fdims3%2Fdefault%2Fstrip%2Ffalse%2Fcrop%2F2500x1875%200%20625%2Fresize%2F2500x1875%21%2F%3Furl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7b%2Fb5%2Fe21a64d043f3925ce6ad0b362ab6%2Fcardio-7.jpg)
/ Malaka Gharib/NPR
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Malaka Gharib/NPR
The digital story was edited by Meghan Keane. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We’d love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org.
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Copyright 2025 NPR
Ugh. Do I have to?
We’ve all been there – dreading the thought of hitting the treadmill or going for a run. But the truth is, cardio is an important aspect of any fitness routine. So let’s get real and ask some honest questions about cardio:
– Do I really need to do cardio to see results?
– Why does cardio always seem so much harder than strength training?
– Will I ever learn to love running?
– Can I just do HIIT instead of traditional cardio?
– How long do I actually need to do cardio for it to be effective?
Let’s break down the myths and misconceptions surrounding cardio and get to the truth. Stay tuned for some honest answers and maybe even a little motivation to get moving! #CardioConfessions #FitnessTruths #JustDoIt
Tags:
cardio workout, fitness tips, exercise motivation, cardio routine, benefits of cardio, workout inspiration, fitness journey, cardio questions, workout struggles, fitness goals
#Ugh #Honest #questions #cardio #illustrated