The best cardio to lose weight

The Best Cardio to lose weight

I came across a great article on about.com. It talks about the best cardio activities that burns the most calories. I have changed the rankings of some of the activities and only included activities that you can do on a regular basis. I doubt most of us can get cross country skiing done on a regular basis. I rank the ellptical training higher because it mimics the movements of a cross country skiier and it scientifically proven to burn more calories than any other “CARDIO” equipment besides running on the treadmill.

Remember to always warm up and cool down. 3-5 minutes warm-up and a 5 minute cool down.

1. Running

Running is one of best activities you can do. It doesn’t require special equipment (except some quality shoes) and you can do it anywhere. Best of all, you burn serious calories, especially if you add hills and sprints. A 145-lb person can burn 300 (at 5.2 mph) in 30 minutes. The downside is, it takes lots of practice and you should watch your knees and ankles for any discomfort or pain.

2. Elliptical Trainer

The elliptical trainer is a great way to build endurance while protecting your aching joints from high impact activities. Plus, if you use one with arms, it’s just like using a cross-country ski machine. 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.

3. Bicycling

Outdoors or indoors, cycling gives some great cardio. Using all the power in your legs, you’ll increase endurance while burning lots of calories, anywhere from 250-500in 30 minutes, depending on how fast you go and how high your resistance is.

4. Swimming

Swimming, like cross-country skiing, is 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.

5. Step Aerobics

Step aerobics has yet to lose its luster for many gym-goers and it’s a good thing. Step is one tough workout that targets your legs, butt and hips while burning almost 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.

6. Walking

If you put a little oomph into it, walking is a great exercise, burning about 180 calories in 30 minutes. Adding hills, sprints or even a few minutes of jogging can increase the amount of calories you burn. Make sure you walk briskly–pretend you’re trying to catch a bus–and keep you head up, back straight and swing your arms.