What is the best cardio to burn calories? (From your persona

orangeswild123

It's all so confusing haha! I read running is great, then it's not it hurts your knees and is only good for cardio vascular health etc. So what is YOUR go to exercise that has you burning those calories? Obviously any exercise is good! But I'm talking about the kind that blasts majorrr calories Thanks!

rachmaree

All cardio is good Even better if it's something you enjoy.
I personally like to do 50 burpees or so before a workout to get a good burn, or grab a jump rope and do some interval skipping. Sprints, also good.

Athena413

The fact that running hurts your knees is a myth. It can if you don't do it properly or have the wrong shoes, but when done correctly it actually helps to slow the process of bone deterioration. It can't reverse osteoporosis, per say, but it can slow it down and even stop it. However, running is not really a calorie scorching activity unless you're doing it in intervals.

For me, Zumba is an EXCELLENT calorie burner and is a ton of fun! I also burn a lot of calories during spin class.

overzoelous

Swimming. It's legit, play with the time increments in your exercise diary and see how many you could burn in 30 minutes.

pinguwings

I love swimming. You feel like you're whole body's refreshed. Good calorie burner too.

xxshewolfxx

Walking!
Especially hill walking, although I know that's not possible for everyone.

Walking is good, in my opinion, because it strengthens your core muscles, and helps tone up most of the areas of your body (thighs, tummy, bum etc.). It's great for your cardiovasular health. And you are far less likely to strain something or get an injury than you are with any other sport.

Also, I find walking is great because you can do it for a long time and burn loads of calories and not feel like your wearing yourself out too much.

And, great social activity.

jaygirl3

FOr me it's taebo

kristofferbas

I burn between 1200 and 1500 calories when I'm out running for just a little over an hour, that's quite good I would say. Yes, I'm still quite big so I don't think that smaller people with burn that much. But you can compare it to for example Power 90 Cardio 1-2 where I burn between 400 and 500 calories for about 40 minutes.

/k

mags2504

For me it's zumba, over 700 cals per hour and it's great fun, I try running a wee bit but I get really bored and give up easily.

ChinaxDoll

For me running uphills and hiking (even running up the trails) is an awesome calorie burner vs traditional jogging/running =]

fittertanme

I tend to use the treadmill at 5mph and at incline set to high and you will see the cals just burning the if you can try some weights but weights you feel comfortable with to start.

CarolynB38

The fact that running hurts your knees is a myth. It can if you don't do it properly or have the wrong shoes, but when done correctly it actually helps to slow the process of bone deterioration. It can't reverse osteoporosis, per say, but it can slow it down and even stop it. However, running is not really a calorie scorching activity unless you're doing it in intervals.

For me, Zumba is an EXCELLENT calorie burner and is a ton of fun! I also burn a lot of calories during spin class.

If you don't have knee problems there is no reason why you can't run. I have suspected RA and hypermobile joints and I do get sore knees when I exercise, but running isn't any worse than any other exercise. The trick is to build it up slowly so that you are strengthening the muscles that support your joints and you get used to it. The proper running shoes for you are very important. Get fitted properly for your first pair at a proper running specialist. If you decide to start running, look at the Couch to 5k program which builds it up slowly and sensibly.

I do karate which is a great calorie burner and is excellent for strengthening and toning your muscles, especially your core muscles. Any martial art will have a similar effect.

Visser1971

For me it is my recumbent bike. I can read and work out which makes it a workout that I will be able to keep up for the rest of my life. (YES, The REST OF MY LIFE! If I want to keep the weight off, I don't want to kid myself!).

So try out all of them, but try to make a hobby out of at least one or two things so you can maintain them and keep doing them. Be honest with yourself :-)

Cheers, Christy

vanessaclarkgbr

Kick boxing - amazing and just the best toner too. Also, from my experience with shin splints if you are concerned about injury, get on the treadmill, walk fast and get the incline right up 700 cals per hour, no problem at all!

mabelebam

if you're at the gym, I find that 20-30 minutes on the elliptical machine burns about 300 calories (depends on your speed and weight), which is relatively higher than the same amount of time you spend on the treadmill. It's also low impact and works your upper body + lower body at the same time!

Otherwise, aerobics, step aerobics, kickboxing or dancing can help you burn the calories in a short amount of time. Plus its fun if you blast some upbeat music or join a dance group.

jcannon15

i like hiit training particulary turbo fire hiits per my bodybugg i burned around 300 cal for 20 minutes of activity, not to mention it leaves your heart rate elevated after the work out (more calories burned at a resting state)

adross3

I like to run on the tredmill. Running is not a chore, it's a challenge. After I have ran about 15 min into my 30 min run, I find myself smiling. I run with purpose. I run with my body strong and intentfull. So many people look like they are being whipped around by the tredmill. I think that if you run with purpose and strong you will burn calories and strengthen your whole body.

amykeeling

The best thing for me to burn calories is playing Just Dance on the Wii! Its free (once you have bought the game of course!) and you can play it with your friends so you actually work harder if your trying to compete with them. Plus its dancing to lots of good songs so an hour flies by and BAM 400 calories gone! Woo!! I've just bought the new added songs game and can't wait to try it out!

A lot of my friends do Zumba but its £5 a go which isn't a lot of money but obviously works out more expensive than something I can do at home anytime of the day. I've tried running but my stamina isn't very good so I can only go for about a mile then have to walk because I'm too tired. I think if I keep up with the Just Dance maybe I can get my stamina up and hopefully get running. If your quite fit then I would say running is best but if your like me Just Dance is better!

hush7hush

Elliptical HIIT.

Or dancing when I'm feeling frisky. [;

mideon_696

interval training. high intensity intervals using a mix of kettlebells, hill sprints, tabata set etc.

or if you prefer long boring stuff, swimming for sure!

also re the knee probloems people get from running...
my knees are terrible. running is the Worst thing for them for me. and no, i dont run wrong, or have in correct shoes.
its just a **** exercise for me. funnily enough, only running on the flat, or downhill causes problems. hills sprints i find helps them.

its not that running is crap in general, but running on the road is freaking terrible. beach on the other hand! love it.

melaniecheeks

I really don't enjoy running - the trick is to find something you feel good doing.

Hill walking is brilliant, if there's a suitable hill nearby. And anything dancy like Zumba. My own favourite is the Les Mills Body Combat class at teh gym.

dad106

I personally hate running and would never be caught dead doing it!

My cardio consists of walking on a treadmill at the highest incline, at a speed of 2.7/2.8 depending on how tired my legs get. If you don't hold on, it gets to be a really good leg and cardio workout

kymmixxx

for me its the cardio wave, i love that machine, a really good work out and as i wiggle along to music it just feels like dancing!

cshapiro926

Interval interval interval... Every doctor, trainer and nutritionist all say interval training is THEE best method of losing weight... There is so much research to back that up too.. Plus since I've started the #s on the scale are moving more then ever!!!!

RodrigoLoureiro

Can't do better than cycling !!! make sure you train in the appropriate zones... Zone 2 for long fat burning rides Zone 4 and above to build muscle.
Doing an appropriate mix of rides, you'll burn fat and build muscle which will help burn more fat.
Cycling has a bonus that is a great social activity, you go sightseeing, and it's very low impact on joints and bones.
Perfect

Rodrigo

Azdak

However, running is not really a calorie scorching activity unless you're doing it in intervals.

:huh:

This really points out how far the HIIT cultists have moved the goal posts of reality. Now, I'll admit that the recent trend of "running" at speeds of 4.0 mph changes the equation somewhat. However, their are few exercise modalities that provide the calorie "bang for the buck" that running does.

The fact is that running burns more calories at any given perceived level of exertion than almost any other form of exercise. (A recent study suggested that the ARC Trainer scored high as well, but I haven't seen the raw data so I don't know how significant that is).

brocantrs

Cycling! Burns a lot of calories and is fun!

Azdak

The calories you burn during an exercise depends on two things: intensity and body weight

After that, a lot of it is personal preference.

It has been shown that some activities are more comfortable (in general) to per perform at a higher level than others. In other words, working at a fixed intensity FEELS easier for whatever reason, therefore one is more likely to sustain a higher effort and thus burn more calories.

Psychological and social preferences can also play a role in increasing motivation to work out harder and remain more adherent to a program.

Theoretically, any aerobic exercise performed at the same intensity should yield roughly equivalent caloric expenditures. As I mentioned before, calories expended depends almost entirely on intensity (for the same person).

For example, when left to self-select intensity based on perceived exertion, most people will work less hard (and thus burn fewer calories) on a stationary bike compared to running or an elliptical. That is mostly due to the fact that cycling involves a smaller amount of muscle mass in a smaller range of motion. Therefore, localized muscle fatigue often becomes a limiting factor in how hard an effort can be sustained. However, if one trains as a cyclist and/or if one is motivated by the support and energy of a spin class, for example, it is possible to achieve intensity levels similar to the other modalities mentioned.

As always, it's not WHAT you do that's most important. It's HOW you do it that makes the difference.

cowboydan43

Ellipticals are great if you crank up the resistance, and they are easy on the knees. I like to do a brisk walk (3.6-4.0 for me) on the treadmill and do intervals of high incline. It can really get your heart rate up.

foremant86

cycling! low impact and burns plenty of calories! plus it's incredibly enjoyable.

Egger29

The calories you burn during an exercise depends on two things: intensity and body weight

After that, a lot of it is personal preference.

It has been shown that some activities are more comfortable (in general) to per perform at a higher level than others. In other words, working at a fixed intensity FEELS easier for whatever reason, therefore one is more likely to sustain a higher effort and thus burn more calories.

Psychological and social preferences can also play a role in increasing motivation to work out harder and remain more adherent to a program.

Theoretically, any aerobic exercise performed at the same intensity should yield roughly equivalent caloric expenditures. As I mentioned before, calories expended depends almost entirely on intensity (for the same person).

For example, when left to self-select intensity based on perceived exertion, most people will work less hard (and thus burn fewer calories) on a stationary bike compared to running or an elliptical. That is mostly due to the fact that cycling involves a smaller amount of muscle mass in a smaller range of motion. Therefore, localized muscle fatigue often becomes a limiting factor in how hard an effort can be sustained. However, if one trains as a cyclist and/or if one is motivated by the support and energy of a spin class, for example, it is possible to achieve intensity levels similar to the other modalities mentioned.

As always, it's not WHAT you do that's most important. It's HOW you do it that makes the difference.

Well said Azdak!. The best exercise is overall, is simply the one you're doing to do consistantly, for you! :-)