It’s that time of the year again, what with summer rolling round and the temperature suddenly rising, where everyone has to squeeze into as little clothing as possible to make themselves comfortable. Yet if you’re like a lot of us, you might’ve indulged a little bit too much over the winter and be carrying around slightly more timber than you’d like. Looks like it’s the perfect moment to start exercising again, but what if you’re unsure of what is the best exercise for you to burn fat?
We realise that not everyone enjoys doing the same thing, and what might be fun for one person is near torture for the next. Well, people say that variety is the spice of life, so here’s a quick guide to four of the best cardio workouts to burn fat. We’re sure that there’s one in here that will have you fighting fit in no time.
Firstly though, let’s establish what cardio is. Cardio is short for cardiovascular exercise and basically means any type of activity that increases the rate of your heart and maintains it at that higher level. Pretty straightforward then, but how does it burn fat? Simply put, people burn fat and lose weight when their energy output is more than their energy input, so by burning off more calories than you eat.
One way to do this is by adjusting your diet and making sure you eat nutritious and low-fat food, which can help lead to a healthy lifestyle, as we reported here at Aktinmotion. Another way is by doing cardio and getting the heart pumping and burning off calories that way. Combining the two though is the golden ticket to both burning fat and also being a fitter and more energised person.
1 – Skipping Rope
You may not have done this since your school days, but skipping is a fantastic cardio workout to burn off fat. In fact it’s one of the most efficient and effective ways to do it, as you can choose how hard or easy you’d like to make the workout depending on the speed you choose to skip.
Slow and steady helps build stamina, a good way is trying to better how long you can skip for each time. Or go all out for a couple minutes, then give yourself a couple minutes rest, then repeat to really get the heart pumping and sweat falling.
Another bonus for skipping is just how cheap and accessible it is to do, with the only equipment you need being a simple skipping rope, and you’re able to do it just about anywhere. Perfect for if you’re constantly on the move due to business, as you can just throw the lightweight skipping rope in your suitcase and workout with it in the hotel room.
2 – Swimming
If you find exercising on land dull and tiresome, why not jump into the fresh cool water and give swimming a go? As soon as you step into the water you’re burning calories as it requires every muscle in your body to keep you afloat.
It’s also a low impact cardio workout. Meaning that if you find your joints ache after other types of cardio workouts, then this could be perfect for you. This is because as you glide through the water, every kick and arm movement becomes a resistance exercise, but it doesn’t give you the harsh impact to your skeletal system that other workouts do.
All you have to do to really get the most out of swimming is to try and do the most amount of lengths you can do in a set time. Then try and better it each time to bring your own competitive edge to the workout.
3 – Cycling
Getting on a bike can really burn calories in a quick and enjoyable way. It can also be great for building lung and heart health by making them work hard as you pedal. It’s also fantastic at building leg muscle, so if that’s a goal of yours, then make cycling your choice of cardio.
Don’t get stuck on an exercise bike at the gym though, one of the biggest plus points of cycling is the ability to get out and see the world. Just put a helmet on and launch yourself into everything that nature has to offer. Plus, you can choose a hilly route if you want to really get those calories burning away.
If you wanted some great inspiration to become a cycling superstar, then make sure to check out the Tour De France which begins in late June. The Tour De France is the biggest cycling race in the world and is known to be one of the most gruelling competitions in sport. The favourite for this year’s race is Slovenian Tadej Pogacar who’s priced at 5/4 at the best betting sites.
It’s always refreshing to know that if you do choose to bet on sport that you’re getting the greatest odds and sign-up offers, and that’s where SBO.net comes in. They’ve put hours into researching what different betting companies have to offer and compiled it into one easy to use guide.. The Tour De France might be gruelling, but with SBO.net, betting on it won’t be.
4 – Rowing
You might be the kind of person that just wants the most bang for their buck and that’s where rowing comes in. Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to join your local rowing club, although we’re not going to stop you either.
Instead, just get on any rowing machine at the gym and start burning fat. Sure, it might not be as exciting as a few of the other choices, but rowing is a guaranteed full-body workout. It can even help with your posture, which is important if you find yourself hunched over a desk all day.
If you wanted to get into rowing but don’t want to go to the gym, buying a rowing machine can be a brilliant way to get an intense cardio workout at home. Just head over to Women’s Health to find their guide to which rowing machine would best suit you.
