Zone 2 Cardio: Three Months In
Nov 30, 2025 · 5 min read
I avoided cardio for years because I thought it would kill my gains. This fall I finally added easy, steady sessions to see what would happen.
What "zone 2" means for me
A pace where I can still hold a conversation but would not want to sing. On the stationary bike that is roughly 130–140 bpm. I use a chest strap because the wrist sensor on my watch was all over the place.
Results after 12 weeks
- Resting heart rate went from 64 to 58 bpm.
- Rest periods between heavy sets feel shorter. I recover faster between sets of five.
- No noticeable loss of strength.
I do it on rest days or after upper-body sessions, with a podcast. It has become the most relaxing part of my week.