But did you know that cardio for weight loss is the LEAST effective and to get in shape?
The idea behind doing cardio for weight loss is that it burns calories and therefore helps you get in shape. And yes, it works...very slowly.
There are other forms of exercise that burn MUCH more calories and give much faster results than cardio for weight loss.
Let me reveal to you the two most effective ones that I consider my 'secret weapons' in my work of fitness coaching for women.
If you are going to do cardio for weight loss, then make sure you do something called interval training. It burns three times the calories in one third the time.
In other words it is NINE times more effective.
I've got a great beginner weight loss cardio workout for you that's proven to work. I want you to try it.
Get on a treadmill and set the speed 2.5mph - 3mph and set a low incline. Walk for 5 minutes - this is warm-up.
Now keep the speed the same, but double the incline. Walk like this for 1 minute. This is you work interval.
Bring the incline back down and walk like this for 2 minutes. This is your rest interval.
1 work interval + 1 rest interval = 1 ROUND
Week 1: do 3 rounds 3 times per week .
Week 2: 4 rounds 3 times per week.
Week 3: 5 rounds 3 times per week.
Week 4: 6 rounds 3 times per week
Cool-down for 5 minutes after each session.
If this is too easy for you, pickup the speed in addition to the incline for your work intervals.
If you do this cardio routine in addition to your Metabolic Resistance Training (sign-up for my newsletter to get it), by week 4 you can lose up to 8 pounds of fat.
My other secret weapon is even more powerful. It is Metabolic Resistance Training.
It's a form of resistance training I designed specifically for women. The reason it's extremely effective is that it burns calories during the workout and for 48 hours AFTER the workout.
It elevates your metabolism permanently.
Sure, you can do traditional cardio for weight loss, but if you want results NOW, then I suggest you try interval training and metabolic resistance training.
It's worked for dozens of women I trained and it will work for you too.
Cardio Workouts For Weight Loss
Now lets see why the leading sports conditioning trainers and fat loss coaches in the world recommend a quicker approach to leaning out your midsection.
Could you really have been steered wrong all this time? Everything you've read over the last ten years has said that when you want to lose weight fast that slow and low intensity cardio workouts are the rule.
If you dare to buck the trend and do that new high intensity interval training all you will do is burn of carbs and not experience fat loss. Right? Wrong!
If you have come this far I know I have you interested in the possibility that there must be a better approach. There is. High Intensity Interval Training may be the next big thing. I can promise you that if you keep reading you will never look at a treadmill the same way again!
First, what is "normal" slow, static, weight loss orientated cardio workout defined as? A low intensity cardio workout is when you exercise at 60-65% of your max heart rate.
Your max heart rate can be most easily figured out by subtracting your age from 220. For a person that is 35 the equation would look like this. 220-35= 185 max heart rate. Take the 60-65% fat burning recommendation and you would be shooting for a sustained heart rate of 120 beats per minute.
If that is a low intensity workout, then what is high intensity cardio workout?
High intensity cardio is defined as exercise that gets your heart rate into the 75% and up range. This can be done in a sustained fashion but not for very long and that is where the interval training part comes in.
Intervals of high intensity combined with a downshift in gears to rest for 30 seconds to a minute before ramping it back up. You go fast then slower to catch your breath a little.
So how exactly does H.I.I.T. burn more fat then the slow and low method? Again, another great question! Let me explain.
Low intensity cardio training burns about 50% fat for energy while a high intensity workout burns about 40% fat for energy. So the low intensity method is best right? Just wait.
Lets take the average walker doing cardio on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Once they have finished they have racked up a calorie burn of 160 calories. If 50% of those calories are fueled by fat then they have burned 80 fat calories
Then over on treadmill number two, you have a mixed martial arts fighter doing wind sprints in the high intensity cardio style. He is doing one minute high and 30 seconds at a jog or a walk. He keeps this up for 20 minutes, is drenched in sweat and breathing like a freight train. In those 20 minutes of HIIT he has burned 350 calories.
If you take the lower fat burning percentage of 40%, what do you have? What you have is 140 fat calories burned and in less time then the low intensity person. As a matter of fact, our HIIT person is in the showers as we speak while the slow cardio workout person is getting bored out of their mind looking for something to read on the treadmill.
The bottom line is that you almost doubled your fat burning with the high intensity cardio workout, and less time to boot.
Now you can see that in the long run you actually burn more fat calories in total with HIIT then the regular style while you are doing it. What about the rest of the day?
The fact of the matter is that slow-low cardio workout only helps weight loss while you do it. Once you get off the treadmill that's all you get as far as weight loss goes after a couple of minutes rest.
Here is the clincher on HIIT. It burns calories long after you stop! It sounds too good to be true but even after you stop your interval training your body will continue to rev its metabolism for up to 24 hours depending on how intensely you did your intervals. This is a great thing for weight loss wouldn't you say?
The fact of the matter is that even after you hit the showers and are sitting on the couch, HIIT is still working towards your weight loss goals for you. Now that's efficient. Less time spent working and longer lasting effects.
Small changes like this to your workout make all the difference when you really want to lose that weight fast. I hope that helps you out!
Both George Grigoryan & Raymond Burton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
George Grigoryan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Cardio Training and Fitness. Geo Grigoryan is a fitness coach who has helped dozens of women sculpt the body of their dreams. To get his latest FREE e-book '46 Must Have Toning' and a free Sample Workout please visit:=>. George Grigoryan's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.
Raymond Burton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Multi Level Marketing, Home Management and Lose Weight. "Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU To Painlessly Create Your Own Fat Free, Swimsuit Ready Body... Without Being a Spandex Wearing Gym Nut or Paying Outrageous Fees To A Personal Trainer!" (Even If You Can Barely Do A Pushup..) Ray Burton reveals the. Raymond Burton's top article generates over 823000 views. to your Favourites.
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