Most types of cardiovascular exercise, with the exception of basketball, are difficult for me to get motivated for. That’s why from time to time I try to remind myself about the importance of cardio for long term health. Aiming for 30 minutes of heart rate elevating activity at least 4 times per week is my goal. In addition to helping you hit calorie burn targets for weight loss, cardio also reduces the risk for developing some types of cancers, diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, and of course cardiovascular disease.
Some good further reading on the basics of cardiovascular exercise can be found here: http://www.medicinenet.com/aerobic_exercise/article.htm