When it comes to cardio exercise, there really isn’t one exercise that works the best for everyone. The most successful cardio exercise is one that can be implemented on a regular basis. To obtain the greatest health benefit, it's best to participate in cardio activity for 20 minutes at least 3 times per week.
Step Aerobics
This is a favorite of women of all ages. The upbeat tempo of the exercise and the various moves helps to prevent burnout or boredom. This cardio activity works the lower body including the legs and glutes. One can expect to burn around 400 calories in just 30 minutes. If hand weights or dumbbells are incorporated into the workout even more calories will be burned and the upper body will get a good workout too.
Running
Some people love running while others hate it with a passion. It’s a great cardio exercise because it does burn a lot of calories and all that’s needed is a pair of good running shoes. Running an 8 minute mile burns about 800 calories per hour. The legs, glutes and core get an excellent workout during a run.
Swimming
This is a great cardio exercise because it uses the entire body. Swimming laps at a moderate pace for 1 hour can burn up to 600 calories. Even if one could only devote 30 minutes of swimming 3 times per week, 900 calories would be burned. Swimming also helps to build lean muscle which helps the body burn more calories at rest.
Walking
Walking is a great cardio exercise for those who don’t like workouts that are too strenuous. The average person can expect to burn about 180 calories in 30 minutes. Hand weights, adding an incline or some kind of resistance will result in even more calories burned.
Bicycling
Bicycling can be done either outside on a bicycle if the weather is nice, or indoors on a stationary bike. More calories will be burned bicycling outside because normally one will experience some sort of terrain where as if a stationary bike is used, the entire ride is smooth. The faster the speed and the tougher the resistance, the more calories will be burned.
There are hundreds of different cardio activities that will burn calories, but these 5 exercises can burn a lot of calories in less time than the more leisure kind of activities. As long as cardio exercises are part of a workout routine and utilized regularly, just about any activity will do.
Melinda Friedland - Melinda Friedland was recently married in the summer of 2009 and has 4 young children so she knows what it's like to be busy. She has been ...
