If you’re doing cardio, you want to get the biggest bang for your buck. With the right types of cardio workouts, you can burn some serious fat, crush calories, and leave your workout with the endorphins flowing and a better mood. Cardio’s where it’s at if you want to really nail fat burning. Plus, there’s nothing more rewarding than scorching calories and powering through a tough cardio workout, right? We’re sharing the top seven cardio workouts that burn fat that you’re going to want to add to your fitness routine.
Lace-up those sneakers, get your favorite playlist going, and let’s get sweaty.
7 Cardio Workouts That Burn Fat
#1 Jumping Rope:
If the last time you jumped rope was in middle school, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane. Get jumping to burn some serious calories. Jumping rope serves as an ah-mazing cardio workout that burns fat. Plus, it will help you work on your cardio endurance, so it’s a two-for-one workout. Toss it into a storage bin and pull it out when you’re looking for an alternative cardio workout to burn some serious fat.
And, if you think jumping rope is too old school, think again. Kim Kardashian has been known for relying on this basic workout to get herself into shape. So, turns out jumping rope is still the cool thing to do.
#2 Cycling:
While running on the treadmill is one of the most common ways to burn some calories fast, cycling is just as great. Indoor cycling is also perfect for days where the weather is just plain crappy, and you can’t get outside for a good run. Plus, cycling is the ideal way to get out some serious built-up stress and tension. Blast that fitness playlist and feel empowered by the end of your workout.
Want to know what celebrity boasts about her love for indoor cycling? Ms. Pilates lover herself, Kate Hudson also loves turning things up a notch with cycling.
#3 Elliptical:
Tired of the treadmill? Hop on the elliptical. This is a great lower-impact workout that’s a little easier on the joints, and can still help you burn some serious fat. Add resistance for a little more challenge. The great thing about the elliptical is that you can really tailor the intensity to how you’re feeling that day. Want to go all out? Pick up the pace and pump up that resistance. Looking for a cool down that still helps you burn fat? Ease up on that resistance a bit. You do you girl.
Jennifer Aniston happens to love her cardio elliptical workouts as she mixes a little elliptical with treadmill and bike training. She calls her at-home cardio workout the “trifecta.” Jennifer does 15 minutes on the bike, 15 minutes on the treadmill, and 15 minutes on the elliptical.
#4 Walking:
Yup, a simple walk is included in one of our workouts that burn fat. Walking is often overlooked, but it’s a great form of cardio that can help boost your fitness success. Walking is a low-impact form of exercise that’s free, and the perf way to support better health. Walking can help you burn between 148-556 calories per hour (depending on your weight and speed). So, get out for a brisk walk as often as you can, or hop on the treadmill for a 30 minute power walk. Really want to turn up the calorie burn? Increase that incline on the treadmill to really start to get those glutes and legs burning. No matter where you walk (outside or on the treadmill), it will benefit both your mind and body.
Want to try a walking challenge? We share a one-week walking challenge here to help you burn calories and lose weight.
#5 HIIT:
We love us some HIIT here at FitOn, as HIIT workouts are great for burning fat. Science Focus talks about a study that found that those who exercised in 20 second intervals with 1-2 minutes of recovery improved their fitness levels. In fact, they improved their fitness levels just as much as those who did 50 minutes of cardio three times per week. That’s pretty impressive, and another reason to rely on these quick cardio burst workouts to reach your fitness goals. Give it your all for 15-20 minutes, and you’ll walk away in a better mood and having burned some major cals.
#6 Tabata:
Tabata is another calorie-scorching workout that can be added to your current fitness routine. Even just a couple of rounds of Tabata can help you burn some fat and help you reach your fitness goals.
Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez swear by HIIT workouts to help her stay in shape.
#7 Dance Fitness:
Have a little fun with your current cardio routine by getting jiggy with it. FitOn offers dance and barre cardio workouts that burn fat. They are the perfect balance of fun, yet challenging to help you see results.
Continuous movement such as dropping low in a Zumba class can help you burn between 300-900 calories. And, if you combine Zumba with some strength training 2-3 times per week, your fitness results may skyrocket. That’s because Zumba plus strength training is the perfect combo to tighten and tone, and get the calories burning.
And hey, variety is the spice of life. It’s important not to get stuck in the monotony of plain jane cardio workouts. So, add a little dance fitness to your life.
Oh, and what makes dance fitness such as Zumba even cooler is that celebrities like Jennifer Lopez (again) and Madonna are big fans.
Burn Fat, See Results
There’s no denying that cardio is king when it comes to burning fat. But, hopping on a treadmill and running for an hour each day is boring (wah, wah). Spice things up with these seven cardio workouts that burn fat. They may be the variety you need to speed up your fitness results and keep you motivated to keep pushing forward one cardio workout at a time.
