What image or scene goes through your mind when you think or hear the word cardio?
Is it taking a brisk walk or is it when you’re drenched with sweat while using the treadmill?
In a nutshell, cardiovascular exercise, otherwise known as aerobic exercise, is any physical activity that raises your heart rate.
In other words, those two scenarios you’re thinking of are considered cardio exercises.
Cardio promotes calorie burning and helps in weight loss.
And when combined with strength training, these effects intensify.
But if you’re looking for easy cardio exercises that can also help you lose weight fast, then don’t worry because these exercises exist.
In fact, you may already be doing some of them.
Activities like running and swimming are two examples of easy cardio exercises, and we will be discussing more of them, so stay tuned.
1.Swimming
Do you like swimming? Then this will give you more reasons to go for a swim.
Swimming is a total-body workout that instantly starts the moment you tread on the water.
That’s because you’re practically going against gravity, making your muscles work extra hard so you can stay afloat without resting until you’re out of the water.
Plus, even a minute of swimming can already burn 14 calories.
Impressive, huh? The type of stroke is also important.
For instance, a butterfly stroke burns more calories than a breaststroke.
2.Jumping rope
Ever wondered why jump rope is always part of a boxer’s workout regimen? It’s incredibly cheap, not to mention very easy.
And the best part? It burns tons of calories.
Jumping rope, even in just 30 minutes, can already burn as many as 500 calories.
It also helps improve your footwork, coordination, and shoulder strength.
If you can’t jump rope for 30 minutes straight, do it with intervals of slow and fast jumps.
3.Running
Running at a moderate space will surely burn fat and calories.
For example, a 180-pound man can burn as many as 940 calories in just an hour while running a 1 mph on a treadmill.
This equates to 8.5 minutes per mile.
If you’re using the treadmill, put the incline at 2 to 3% to simulate running outside.
Consequently, it will burn more calories and can be gentler on your knees.
Running with a partner or group can also make it easier and less boring, and possibly, motivating you to run for additional miles.
4.Stair climbing
Compared to walking, climbing stairs use significantly more muscles due to the higher leg lift involved.
As a result, it functionally strengthens your legs.
However, people with bad knees may find this hard as it can put a lot of pressure and weight on your joints.
5.Sprinting
Sprinting can be done on the bleachers, outside, or a treadmill.
With no equipment needed, you can easily burn a good amount of calories in a short period.
On top of that, sprinting works all your muscles.
When you’re on a track, sprint a lap then another lap for jogging.
Repeat this for as many as you can.
Do you know other easy cardio exercises that go really hard when it comes to fat-burning? Comment them below!
