Cardio Exercises
Cardio exercises: Burn Body Fat!
What is meant by cardio exercises? Cardio is an abbreviation for
cardiovascular. Most people consider any aerobic exercises to be
a cardio exercises due to the increase of heart beat speed. Cardio
exercises and cardio workouts are performed to strengthen the heart
muscle, as well as to burn body fat. One of the most important things
you can do for your weight loss goals is regular cardio exercises.
Cardio workouts such as treadmills, running, jogging and aerobics
also help to burn body fat. Cardio workouts also increase endurance.
Some cardio exercises can even build muscle strength. All athletes
employ cardiovascular workouts in their training. Cardio exercises
are favored by women to burn body fat. Cardio exercises such as
step aerobics, stairmasters and dance classes are some of the top
favorites. Most men do not like cardio exercises, and prefer lifting
weights. Lifting weights has the same fat burning effects as cardio
workouts and cardio exercises. Weight training, as important as
it is in physical fitness, does not have the heart-strengthening
benefit of aerobic exercises. However, most people consider a cardio
exercises which speeds up the heart rate and causes sweat, to be
the best exercises to burn body fat.
Cardio improvement can enrich your lifestyle. Cardio training makes
the heart muscle stronger. Cardio exercises ensures that a healthy
heart permits a healthier life. If a person is doing a cardio exercises
to promote fat burning, the best time to do this is first thing
in the morning. Cardio exercises such as interval explosive movements
such as sprinting is an excellent fat loss technique as the heartbeat
fluctuates and drops. Heart monitors can record the heart rate during
cardio exercises activities, and let you know if your heart speed
is in target range for either cardio training, or for burning body
fat.
What cardio exercises are the best cardio activity for burning
calories and getting in shape? The top ten cardio exercises are:
1. Step Aerobics - one of the most favorite cardio
exercises preferred by women. Step Aerobics mainly target your legs,
hips and glutes, and can burn approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes.
2. Bicycling - stationary or outdoors is a great
cardio exercises, depending on resistance and speed can but 250
to 500 calories in 30 minutes.
3. Swimming - like cross-country skiing is an
excellent cardio exercises as it is a full body exercises. Swimming
is a great cross-training for other cardio activities. Doing the
breast stroke can burn approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes.
4. Racquetball - side to side sprinting makes
racquetball and excellent cardio exercises. A 145-lb person burns
over 400 calories in 30 minutes.
5. Rock Climbing - is not only a cardio exercises,
but also uses arm and leg strength and power. Rock Climbing can
burn up to 380 calories in 30 minutes.
6. Cross-Country Skiing - whether on a machine
or outdoors on snow, is an incredible cardio exercises as it involves
both upper and lower body. A 145 lb person can burn approx 330 calories
in 30 minutes.
7. Running - Running is an excellent cardio exercises
because all you need is a pair of quality running shoes. Running
burns serious calories. A 145 lb person can easily burn 300 calories
in 30 minutes.
8. Elliptical Trainer - is an excellent cardio
exercises and a great way to build endurance. A 145 lb person can
burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.
9. Rowing - is both a cardio exercises as well
as giving your arms an incredible workout. 145 lb person can burn
about 300 calories in 30 minutes.
10. Walking - Brisk walking is a less strenuous
form of cardio exercises. Walking can burn up to 180 calories in
30 minutes. Sprinting, adding hills or an incline can increase amount
of calories burned.
When your heart becomes stronger, more oxygen can be circulated
to your body with greater efficiency. This improved efficiency results
in less work for the heart, and thus a slower heart rate. Reducing
your heart rate should be one of your primary cardiovascular goals.
The most notable adaptations accompanying aerobic training include:
- an increase in heart size
- an increase in blood volume
- a decrease in heart rate
- an increase in cardiac output due primarily to increased stroke
volume
- an increase in oxygen extraction
- a reduction of blood pressure improvement in body composition.
Your target heart rate is calculated as follows: Your Age - 220
= 100% of your target heart rate. Your "Zone" is between 60% and
85% of your target heart rate. As an example, if you are 25 years
old the formula is 220 - 25 = 195. 60% of 195 is 117, and 85% of
195 is 166. Therefore, your zone would be 117 to 166. Your zone
is your intensity monitor.
Looking for a good cardio exercises video? Here are a few recommended
cardio exercises video tapes:
- Step Reebok: The Video
- Step Reebok: Intense Moves
- Karen Voight's Energy Sprint
- Cathe Friedrich's Interval Max
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