Most people know that cardio is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but people tend to hate it because cardio has built up a bad reputation for itself over the years. Maybe you hated cross country in high school and now, you refuse to go through that again. Maybe you have some sort of injury that’s crossed off your favorite cardio, and now, you’re looking for alternative options. Or maybe you actually like cardio, and you’re just here to learn more.
Fact: cardio is important.
Fact: cardio has a ton of health benefits.
Fact: cardio is the most hated thing in fitness.
Here’s one of the best-kept secrets in fitness– cardio can actually be fun! By changing up your routine and keeping things interesting, you can push right past the monotony that can be associated with cardio and reap the rewards. And that is why I’m here to give you a crash course on the best cardio to burn fat and lose weight!
What is Cardio?
Let’s start with the basics here. Cardio is essentially anything that gets your heart rate up, helps you break a sweat, and gets your blood pumping. Running? Sure, that’s cardio. But so is walking. And so is hiking. And so is dancing. And swimming. And anything else you can think of that gets your heart pumping and helps you get a little out of breath.
What are the Health Benefits of Cardio?
- Cardio is good for the ticker. There’s not a lot better for improving your heart than getting it working. Over time, this can improve your cardiovascular health.
- Cardio is good for the brain. If you’ve ever been stressed and done a workout, you usually will find yourself less stressed after, and there’s a reason for this: your body and your mind are connected. Working out has been proven to help manage stress and improve your mental health.
- Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases. High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and more can have a reduced rate if you maintain a healthy body, especially with cardio.
- Weight Loss. Although this one is sort of a “well duh,” cardio does a great job at burning those pesky calories and helping you lose weight.
If you’re interested in learning more about the health benefits of fitness, click here for our guide to using gym equipment safely and effectively.
What’s the Best Cardio for Burning Fat and Losing Weight?
There are a million different recipes that all claim to be the best way to lose fat, from extreme diets to bizarre workout routines. As a consumer, it can be hard to pick. If you go to one trainer, they may say that the carnivore diet is the way to go. And if you go to the next one, they may say the all-vegan diet has worked for them. Unfortunately, what this sometimes does is that it can become entirely too confusing, and then the person who just wanted to get a little healthier gets turned off to the entire thing.
Let me clarify this for you– you can’t miss with cardio.
Sure, there are things that might work better than others for burning fat and losing weight, or different routines, but the truth is that anything you do is better than nothing.
I’m going to let that sink in for a moment. The fitness world tends to get sort of clique-ish with their cardio, but the truth is that our bodies are meant to move, and if you’re moving, that’s a good start. You don’t need to go run marathons (unless you want to). You don’t need to do this particular exercise, or this expensive class, or whatever, to get the rewards. You need consistency and frequency.
The best exercise for burning fat and losing weight is the one you will do.
That being said, for overall health, a good rule of thumb is shooting for 150 minutes of moderate intensity cardio each week (which is good to break up into 30-40 minute sections) or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week. Again, if you can only swing some of this, you are that much closer to your goals than by skipping it.
If you have health issues (especially heart issues) or if you are taking medications, make sure to clear any cardio with your doctor before doing anything below.
Now, I’m going to take you through a few of the excellent choices available here at The Athletic Club in Marble Falls, Texas, to guide you through this!
Top Cardio for Burning Fat and Losing Weight at The Athletic Club
- The Treadmill – The treadmill is often the first thing that people think of when they think of cardio, and there’s a reason for it: the treadmill is a proven champ. Whether you’re walking, jogging, or running, the treadmill keeps you moving. Especially if you put it at a slight incline, you can quickly get your blood pumping and start reaping those rewards.
- Swimming – Use our heated indoor pool to smash through your fitness goals – included in every membership! Not only is it a great way to burn fat and lose weight, swimming and pool use in general has a whole bunch of bonus health benefits. Click here to see our article on that!
- The Elliptical – The elliptical is another popular choice. It is easy on the joints, kind of fun, and very effective. Put on your headphones or strike up a conversation, and before you know it, you’ll be done.
- Jumping Rope – Remember Rocky jumping rope to get in shape? There’s a reason that every time you see a boxing movie, they include jumping rope. It’s an insanely good workout, incorporating a lot of your body and getting your blood pumping quickly. Beyond that, it’s an outstanding shoulder and forearm workout, not to mention the benefits to your core.
- Riding a Bike – There are a bunch of different bikes here, and all of them work for burning fat and losing weight. They are a popular choice because they are approachable, simple, and easy. Sit next to a friend, and the time flies by.
- Rowing – Those who row know. Rowing is another one of those exercises that includes working your muscles as well as your cardiovascular. It’s tiring, fun, and because you keep moving, it helps keep things from getting boring.
- The Stairmaster – The dreaded Stairmaster. If you’ve ever hustled up a flight of stairs and been surprised that you’re out of breath at the top, you know what it’s like. The Stairmaster simply works. It’s just an endless, revolving set of stairs that you can control. Be careful– those with knee problems should be cautious around this one, but if you can do it, it is an absolutely brutally effective exercise for burning fat and losing weight.
- Classes – You don’t need to do cardio alone! Come to one of our classes (click here to see all the available classes) and have fun while you burn calories and lose weight. All classes are included in every membership! Ask a staffer if you want clarification or personal recommendations, any of us here would be happy to help guide you, show you how to use the equipment, get you started, answer any questions you may have, and more.
Conclusion
Cardio is important, and as much as one is tempted to skip it, think of the health benefits. Believe it or not, cardio can actually be fun! And the best part is that it meets you where you are, at your current fitness level, and you get to decide how hard you want to push yourself. Again, if you’re doing something, it’s better than nothing!
Over time, I’ve used every one of these cardio exercises here at The Athletic Club personally. Shake it up if you get bored. Try new things! Keep it interesting. Have fun!
Check out our group fitness classes and take your cardio to the next level—sign up today! And of course, as always, if you have any questions, please let us know and we can help guide you!