10 Killer Workouts That Burn More Fat Than Running
Do you pound the pavement, hoping to melt away those love handles or stop your thighs from jiggling so much? Are you putting in 100% effort, only to see minimal results?
Running is good for your heart and lungs. It can be meditative and help you manage stress. According to Shape Magazine, however, running may not be as effective as you expect if you’re trying to lose weight.
Many people think that if you want to lose weight, you should focus on cardio. If you want to build muscle, you should focus on lifting weights. This Women’s Health article explains why that’s a myth.
Focusing on only cardio will help you lose fat. It will also burn some muscle. Coach Jeff on Running Connect says that many runners don’t fuel up properly before or after a run. Therefore, they may be taking in more calories than they’re expending, leading to weight gain.
Also, overtraining can lead you to develop strong cravings for sugar and salt, according to Dr. Axe. The short, but intense, workouts below can help you burn more fat without burning out.
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1. At-Home Cardio Workout with No Equipment
This workout is brought to you by the FitnessBlender team, and we absolutely LOVE them!
Their YouTube Channel is filled with all sorts of fat-burning workout videos. One of our favorites is their 10-minute abs workout!
The workout rotates between cardio and strength-training, which makes it a great full-body workout!
See the workout here.
2. 30-Min Fat Burning Cardio Workout
This workout by Good Health 24/7 is a great one if you are looking for a mix up from the traditional cardio and full-body workouts that include lots of cardio, squats, etc.
It incorporates a lot of dance-type movies, and it has great music! Do it when you have a little extra energy or want an added fat-burning boost.
See the workout here.
3. Ultimate Fat Burn Workout
This 7-minute workout from Blogilates combines large movements with small pulses to target trouble areas. The instructor gives you constant encouragement and reminders to maintain proper form.
With this reinforcement, you may be more motivated to maximize your efficiency and burn more fat than if you did the moves on your own.
Plus, the visuals are gorgeous. The workout is filmed on a hill overlooking Los Angeles.
See the workout here.
4. Bad-Ass S-Hiit – HiitCombat #3
If you like boot-camp-style workouts, you’ll be inspired by this BodyRock TV sequence. You’ll exercise in real time with Lisa Marie, a personal trainer with a tough, no-excuses style.
The workout combines plyometrics (jumping moves), boxing and weight lifting. It’s extremely fast paced. Although the workout is only 8 minutes long, you should be breathing hard within a few seconds.
Plus, the moves are unique. They require you to use major muscle groups at once. They also involve engaging your core to maintain your balance, which delivers more toning power as you exercise.
See the workout here.
5. Metabolism-Boosting HIIT Workout
If you want a slightly longer workout, try this 20-minute workout from Christine Salus. The instructor claims that it not only burns fat but also increases your metabolism.
It’s tough. Don’t let this discourage you. Think of it as a challenge that will keep you going.
If you can’t do all the exercises at first, set a goal to help you improve. You can focus on improving your form or doing more repetitions within each interval as you get stronger.
See the workout here.
6. Victoria’s Secret Model Workout: 10-Minute Fast-Blasting Circuit
Heidi Klum’s trainer, Andrea Orbeck, shows you how to burn fat quickly with a short workout. It includes a warm-up, ballet moves and other resistance exercises.
You don’t need any equipment to do this workout. You may be surprised at how difficult some of the exercises can get even though you’re not holding weights.
See the workout here.
7. Barre-Free Full-Length 30-Minute Cardio Ballet Workout
Exercising should be fun. This workout uses cardio ballet to help you burn fat and sculpt your muscles. You’ll feel as graceful as a dancer as you perform this exercise program.
You don’t need equipment to do these exercises. In fact, you don’t even have to put on your shoes. This is a great option if you just want to press play on the video and get going.
It also involves minimal jumping. That makes it an ideal sequence to do if you’re traveling and staying in a hotel or live on the upper floor of an apartment building.
See the workout here.
8. Natalie Portman Workout
This workout incorporates moves that Natalie Portman used to train for the movie “Black Swan.” Some moves are reminiscent of Pilates or yoga postures.
The background music is relaxing. The workout is only 10 minutes long.
This is a great way to add in a little extra fat burning when you get to the end of the day and realize that you haven’t had time to exercise.
As you build muscle using these resistance moves, you’ll burn more calories even when you’re sitting around doing nothing.
See the workout here.
9. Yoga for Weight Loss – 40 Minute Fat-Burning Yoga Workout
Yoga isn’t designed only for relaxing. This workout incorporates positions that help you strengthen your core. It also helps stimulate your digestive system.
When the food that you eat can be processed properly in the gut, you may be able to lose weight more efficiently.
Doing yoga can also help you be more mindful of your body and breath. It can help reduce levels of stress hormones that can cause belly fat to accumulate.
You can do this video even if you’re a beginner. The instructor explains every movement so that you don’t have to watch the screen as you move. She even tells you how to adjust certain exercises if they feel too difficult.
See the workout here.
10. Burst Training On The Treadmill
If you’re dead set on running, this routine claims to burn the most fat in the shortest amount of time. Dr. Axe claims that it burns 3 to 9 times more fat than regular running.
It requires you to run as hard as you can for 10 seconds. To maximize the effects, jump off the treadmill, planting your feet on the sides in between sprints. Just don’t fall off!
You can play around with the speed and incline to push yourself even harder. Maintain proper form, and pump your arms as you run.
See the workout here.
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