Cardio is necessary for most people. But if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important that you do the right kind of exercise.
You can be doing hours of cardio each week, but if you’re not doing it right, you won’t burn any fat.
The best forms of cardio are the ones that use both your arms and legs. These exercises burn the most calories in the shortest amount of time because they work your entire body. They work your heart and lungs, and build more muscle than steady-state cardio does.
- HIIT Cardio Workouts
High-intensity interval training is an effective way to burn fat in a short amount of time, and it doesn’t even require going to the gym. There are many options for at-home cardio workouts that will get your heart pumping. If you’re just getting started, you can do each exercise for 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest in between. As you get stronger, increase the time of each exercise and decrease the rest time.
- Jumping Rope
Jumping rope is a fun cardio workout that can be done anywhere at any time. It’s portable and easy to do anywhere, either outside or inside your house. Like with the HIIT exercise above, if you’re just starting out, begin by doing each set for 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest in between. Then work your way up to increasing the length of the set and decreasing the rest time as you get stronger.
- Running or Jogging
Running is one of the best cardiovascular exercises around because it doesn’t take much equipment or space to get started. It works your entire body and doesn’t require much skill. Try starting out with a quarter-mile and then adding on another quarter mile each week until you’re able to go for a half-hour or more without stopping for a break. If you don’t want to run, brisk walking is also a great cardio exercise.
