Is losing weight high on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Perhaps you want to tone up specific areas of your body, or just reduce your overall body fat to improve your health?
Whatever your reasons, if you’re aiming to shed a few pounds, then you’ll need to manage your energy balance to make it happen. This means either reducing the number of calories you consume, or increasing the amount you burn. To help with the latter, we’ve compiled seven of the best calorie burning exercises for you to try out this year.
1. Show off your moves
Ballroom dancing: 273 calories burnt per hour
Dancing can be an incredibly fun way to burn calories and improve your cardiovascular health. There are endless styles to choose from so there’s guaranteed to be one that matches your music tastes. Thanks to the popularity of ‘Dancing with the Stars’, ballroom classes have seen a surge in uptake. Learning new moves and mastering the step sequences challenges your brain as well as your body. Plus, it’s a social activity since you dance in pairs and often rotate with different partners. Get started by watching YouTube videos to figure out which style you like and then search for beginners’ classes near you.
2. Float through nature
Canoeing: 319 calories burnt per hour
Canoeing can be as leisurely or intensive as you want it to be. Floating along rivers and canals or exploring the shores of lakes can be a fun way to get out in nature. Because it relies on upper body strength for paddling, it’s ideal for people with ankle or knee problems. An hour on the water will give you a cardiovascular workout and strengthen your arms, shoulders, and abdominal muscles too. Get started by learning how to paddle and roll correctly at your local pool or canoeing club.
3. Step up your yoga practice
Power Yoga: 364 calories burnt per hour
Anyone who’s tried yoga will know that it can be a tougher workout than it looks. Maintaining poses for extended periods of time strengthens your muscles and tests your balance, as well as relaxing your mind. ‘Power Yoga’ is a more intense form than traditional Hatha and incorporates more cardio into your practice. This is a fantastic way to progress your yoga practice into something more challenging that torches more calories along the way. Ask about power sessions at your local gym, sports club, or yoga studio.
4. Hit the slopes
Downhill skiing: 391 calories burnt per hour
As winter draws in, it’s the perfect opportunity to take advantage of snowfall in mountainous areas. Skiing and snowboarding combine lower body and core strength which can have your muscles shaking by the end of the day. It’s a fun way to improve your strength and agility while taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Plus, the adrenalin rush of whizzing down the slopes can leave you feeling exhilarated for the entire day. Get started by taking a class at a dry slope or asking a friend to teach you.
5. Rekindle your love for the elliptical
Elliptical crosstrainer: 455 calories burnt per hour
The elliptical crosstrainer is a staple cardio machine of every single gym in the country. Although it’s been around since the 1990s, its popularity remains thanks to its low impact calorie-burning ability. If you’re just starting out on your weight loss journey, then the elliptical is the perfect way to begin working out. You can adjust the resistance to make it as difficult or as easy as you need to match your current fitness levels.
Some models even allow you to adjust the incline so you can target different muscle groups such as the glutes or quads. Unlike a treadmill, there’s minimal impact on your joints which makes it perfect for people with injuries that prevent them from running. Get started by visiting your local gym and trying a pre-set workout program.
6. Step up your workouts
Running up stairs: 819 calories burnt per hour
Running up and down stairs is an incredibly effective way to torch calories – better than jogging or rowing! It increases your heart rate which improves your cardiovascular fitness and strengthens your lower body muscles too. Plus, most people can do from the comfort of their own home for free!
Or if you have stairclimbers in your gym, then they’re a great option too since you don’t need to stop and turn around at the top. Get started by walking or running up one flight of stairs then turning around immediately and coming straight back down. Progress by increasing your speed or the number of times you repeat it.
7. Get skipping
Jump rope: 1074 calories burnt per hour
There’s a good reason professional boxers use a jump rope in their workouts – it melts calories like nothing else. You can practice at a speed that’s right for you, whether that’s a Rocky Balboa intensity or a leisurely school-yard pace.
Either way, you’ll be improving your aerobic fitness and overall health as well as blitzing excess calories. Jump ropes are inexpensive to purchase and can be used in the garden or your local park. Get started by timing how long you can skip for without stopping and then trying to beat your time each day.
Melt away calories to get the body you want
Trying new fat burning exercises will help to keep you motivated and ensure you stick with your workout routine. Once you find an activity you love, exercise will never feel like a chore again!
Increasing your physical activity levels is one important aspect of losing weight. Reducing your calorie intake and increasing your metabolism are also crucial to achieving sustained weight loss for the long-term.
An appetite suppressant like PhenQ can help you achieve your goals faster and more easily. It helps you to feel less hungry and boosts your metabolism so that your workouts burn even more calories. Combining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and nutritional supplements will help you get the best possible results from all of your hard work.
