Cardiovascular exercise is an absolutemust for anyone looking to become and stay in shape. With all the media attention, I am still surprised by some of the misconceptions people have about cardio. Take this short True or False quiz to see where you stand.

1.Cardio is boring.

TRUE and FALSE. It can be. But variety is the key. My favorite cardio is rollerblading. I usually rollerblade with my fiancée, Lisa, by the beach. It's a lot more fun than sitting in the gym, but since I live in New York City, I can rollerblade only half the year. In the winter months, I go to the gym and alternate between the treadmill and the recumbent bike.

2.Cardio is dangerous.

FALSE. Cardio is safe so long as you warm up and stretch properly beforehand. Start slow and work up to speed. Also, choose activities that won’t affect pre-existing injuries. For example, I have found that the StairMaster puts too much stress on my knees, and the regular bike hurts my lower back if I do hour-long sessions. And then there's the risk of the family jewels being crushed. Men should consider using the recumbent bike whenever possible in light of recent reports of sexual dysfunction experienced by professional bike racers. The pressure of the triangle shaped seat against the groin can cause vascular damage in that area.

3.Cardio is best done in the morning.

TRUE. I feel I get the most out of my cardio session when I do it as soon as I wake up. I go straight to the gym and on an empty stomach. I do 45 minutes on the recumbent bike. Upon waking up, your blood sugar level is normally low and when you do aerobic activity in this state, your body is forced to find energy from another source: your fat! When I used to compete, I would do an hour in the morning and an extra hour at night, alternating the treadmill and recumbent bike. Ultimately, any cardio is good cardio. If you don’t have the time in the morning, then do it after work. Just do it. The most important muscle you have isn't your 20-inch biceps, but your heart. Think about that the next time you go to the gym.

4.Cardio will make your muscles shrink.

FALSE. Among bodybuilders, this is myth endures. But it is true to an extent. If you do too much cardio, everything will get smaller. On the other hand, if you do too little, you won't get ripped. While getting ready for a competition you have to figure your calorie intake and calorie expenditures. These figures will dictate how much cardio you should do. I recommend that you keep your level of intensity on the cardio machines to a minimum. The last thing you want to do is put a bike on level 10 after training legs. Take it easy. Remember that your cardio session should be “aerobic” (burning calories with oxygen) rather than “anaerobic” which burns fewer calories. If you are on a treadmill running so fast that you can barely speak to the person next to you, then you are not exercising aerobically.

5.Cardio is good for the mind.

TRUE. Cardio activity has many benefits to your body, but it can help your mind. Many people experience a sense of well-being afterwards and we’ve all read about the “runner’s high.” Studies have shown that people who maintain their cardiovascular fitness throughout their life are less like to suffer from depression, senility and other mental impairments that occur in old age.