Running is often thought of as one of the most beneficial exercises. It can get your heart pumping and burn calories, yet there are plenty of other exercises that you can use to lose weight – many of which are more effective at burning calories than running.
Another reason for considering an exercise other than running is that running can wear on your knees. Running is considered a high-impact exercise, due to the constant strain that you put on your knees, thighs, and feet. Combined with the fact that you may only burn 10 calories per minute, when running, you may want to find a different workout.
Here is a selection of 10 exercises that can be more effective than running, to help you lose weight and get in shape.
1 – Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire biking is a type of exercise involving bicycles with large tires. Heavy, hard to control, tires replace the traditional bicycle tires. This results in a difficult exercise that can burn up to 1,500 calories per hour (or 25 calories per minute). That is more than twice as effective as running, without the impact on your knees.
2 – Cross-Fit Exercises
There are many different exercises in a typical cross-fit workout routine, but you do not need to follow a strict routine to benefit from these intense exercises. Do a quick search for cross-fit exercises and select three exercises to perform in a group. Target a different muscle group with each exercise.
3 – Burpees
Burpees can help you burn about 14 calories per minute, performing at least 10 burpees each minute. Compared to an all-out bike sprint, burpees are more effective and increasing your metabolism and helping you to lose weight.
4 – Bike Sprints
Bike sprints may not be as effective as burpees, but they are more suitable for people that are not used to working out. The main goal of performing bike sprints is to pedal as fast as you can for sixty seconds, and then slow back to an easy pace for the next one to two minutes. Alternate between a cruising speed and a sprinting speed.
5 – Kettlebell Swing
Kettlebell swings can easily be incorporated into other workout routines. They only take a few minutes to perform and can help you burn 20 calories per minute. You do not need to be in great shape to begin using Kettlebells. They rely on your momentum, making kettlebell swings a suitable exercise for just about anyone.
6 – Indoor Rowing
Indoor rowing is a great workout for burning calories. The average person can burn 375 calories every 30 minutes while vigorously rowing. Rowing relies on the muscles in your arms, which will help tone and tighten the muscles in your arms and shoulders.
7 – Jumping Rope
Jumping rope is a fun, medium-intensity exercise. If you can keep up 100 skips per minute, you can burn about 13 calories each minute. Jumping rope employs more muscles than running, giving you a more thorough workout.
8 – Battling Ropes
Battle rope exercises are a type of exercise that provides greater calorie burn than running. A recent study compared battle rope exercise to other workouts and determined that battle ropes were the best workout for total oxygen consumption.
9 – Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing is another popular workout, and it can be more effective than running. You actually move at about the same speed as the average runner, when skiing at a standard pace, yet you burn more calories per minute.
10 – Jump Squats
Jump squats are a simple workout that burns a lot of calories. For 20 seconds of hard work, you can burn 14 calories. That is a tremendous amount of weight loss for less than a minute.
The main thing to keep in mind, as you work out, is that you should include a variety of exercises. Work out various muscle groups and allow time for your muscles to recover.
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