If
you're looking to burn maximum calories, cross-country skiing is an
excellent choice. Whether you're on a gym machine or swooshing over
miles of snow, cross-country skiing is an incredible cardio exercise.
Because it involves both the upper and lower body, it doesn't take much
work to get your heart rate up, which is where the calorie-burn comes
in. A 145-lb person burns about 330 calories during 30 minutes of
skiing.
There are a few downsides, however. If you're going for the full outdoor experience, you'll need lots of
gear, plenty of practice
and, of course, snow. You can mimic the movement at the gym by using a
crosstrainer (such as an elliptical with arms or an Arc Trainer), but
it won't be exactly the same.
Whether
you're outdoors or indoors, cycling is an excellent cardio workout. By
using the power of your legs, you increase endurance while burning lots
of calories, anywhere from 250-500 in 30 minutes, depending on how fast
you go and how high your resistance is. What makes cycling even better
than other activities is that you can incorporate it into your daily
life. You can ride to and from work or use your bike to run errands
around town. It's also low impact, which is great for your joints and
perfect cross-training for high impact activities like running or
aerobics.
Next
to the treadmill, the elliptical trainer is the most popular cardio
machine at the gym and it's no wonder. The elliptical trainer allows
your body to move in a natural way, but without the impact of the
treadmill. You can add intensity by increasing resistance and some
machines include adjustable ramps and arm handles for added intensity as
well. As a bonus, you can go backwards on an elliptical trainer,
adding variety while working your muscles in a different way.
The
elliptical trainer is also a good choice for runners looking for a
break from pounding the pavement. A 145-lb person burns about 300
calories in 30 minutes.
Swimming
is another great choice because, like cross-country skiing, it's a full
body exercise. The more body parts you involve in your workout, the
more calories you'll burn. Spend 30 minutes doing the breastroke and
you'll burn almost 400 calories. Best of all, your joints are fully
supported so you don't have to worry about high-impact injuries. It's
also great cross-training for other cardio activities.
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Step
aerobics is another great choice, particularly for people who like
choreographed workouts, but don't enjoy the jackhammer feel of high
impact aerobics. The step offers intensity without the pounding and
it's easy to up the energy by adding risers.
It's also a great
calorie-burner, targeting your legs, butt and hips while burning 300-400
calories in 30 minutes (during high intensity sessions). Though it
might look complicated, step is easy to learn if you start with a
beginner class or video.
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This
is an often overlooked machine in the gym because we're confused about
how it works and, perhaps, aren't sure it delivers a great workout.
However,
rowing is a physically demanding exercise involving both the upper and
lower body, which means a higher heart rate and a greater calorie burn.
Like an elliptical trainer or stationary bike, there are different
levels of resistance, allowing you to get a challenging workout no
matter what your fitness level. In 30 minutes, a 145-lb person can
burn about 300 calories, but if you've never tried rowing, it can be
tough. Start with 10-15 minutes and add time to subsequent workouts to
give your body time to adapt.
Kickboxing
is another great choice for exercisers who want to work hard with more
choreographed workouts. Combining kicks and punches not only enhances
your coordination, it involes both the upper and lower body, making this
an excellent overall workout.
There are a variety of videos
available or you can opt for a class at your local gym to get a more
social interaction. Once you're familiar with different kicks and
punches, you can even create your own workouts or, better yet, use a
punching bag (
compare prices) to get an even better workout.
Walking
is another great choice for cardio because, like running, it's
accessible: You don't need special equipment and you can do it
anywhere, anytime. It's harder to get your heart rate up with walking
since it's low impact but, if you work hard at it, a 145-lb person can
burn about 180 calories in 30 minutes.
Adding hills,
speedwalking or using walking poles
can also increase the intensity. Make sure you walk briskly--pretend
you're trying to catch a bus--and keep you head up, back straight and
swing your arms.
Jumping
rope is another calorie-scorcher and, as an added bonus, a jump rope
packs easily in your suitcase, making it an excellent travel exercise. A
145-lb person can burn a whopping 330 calories with a 30-minute
workout, but you'll want to slowly work your way up to that.
Start
by jumping for 1-2 minutes at a time, taking breaks by marching in
place and swinging your rope in a figure eight motion. Continue
alternating for 10-20 minutes and, over time, gradually increase the
amount of time you jump while decreasing your rests. You can add
variety by trying different foot patterns (jumping on one foot, scissor
jumps, etc.).
10 Top Cardio Exercises:http://cardio-exercise-machine.blogspot.com/