If you are not already familiar with this, the most effective method of losing weight is to perform regular cardio on top of a calorie deficit diet. This is without doubt the best way to go. But, what is the best cardio for weight loss? In the long run the best type of cardio for weight loss is the type you are going to be able to perform on a regular basis. However, certain types of cardio can help you burn more calories and add more variety to your cardio workouts making them great for weight loss!
The Best Types of Cardio For Weight Loss
When it comes to performing cardio for weight loss you have a number of options. You can perform low intensity cardio, high intensity cardio, HIIT Cardio, circuit training, cycling, swimming or even just walking. Lets take a look at three of the best type of cardio workouts for weight loss:
Running: Traditional running is still one of the best types of cardio for weight loss. Running is convenient, cheap and can be performed pretty much anywhere. You don’t need to pay a fortune for a gym membership if your looking to lose weight and perform regular cardio. Grab a good pair of running shoes, throw on some comfortable clothes and go running outside. You can run in a park, field or on the road and pavements.
Running can be tough at first but build up your fitness with small 5-10 minute runs and you will increase the time and distance of your running sessions in no time. Running allows you to pace yourself according to your current fitness levels so run at a pace you feel comfortable with. If your unfit and out of shape start off with slow running for smaller durations. 5-10 minutes of regular running each day will do wonders to your fitness levels if you are a complete beginner.
HIIT Cardio: HIIT is another great type of cardio. HIIT stands for high intensity interval training and as you probably guessed, is performed in intervals. For example, you may warm up with a light jog for 2 minutes, sprint for 10 seconds, walk for a minute, sprint for another 20 seconds and switch back to a light jog. You can repeat the intervals as many times as you like. Feel free to add more sprint and rest intervals into the routine, the above was just a quick example.
As you can tell by the name, HIIT is an intense form of cardio but is great for weight loss. HIIT Cardio is often performed in smaller durations such as 10-15 minutes making it far easier to fit into a busy schedule. Certain studies claim that HIIT is the best form of cardio for weight loss due to the number of calories it burns and the effect it has on ones metabolism.
HIIT cardio can be extremely taxing on the body when performed correctly so think twice before diving straight into it. If your new to cardio and have yet to build up your fitness levels I wouldn‘t perform HIIT just yet. Give yourself a couple of months to build your fitness levels up before attempting HIIT.
HIIT Cardio can be used in a variety of ways. It can be performed when running, cycling or even swimming. Most types of cardio give you the opportunity to implement HIIT into them. When performing HIIT in your cardio sessions be sure to schedule recovery days. HIIT will be extremely hard to perform every day so give yourself enough rest days between sessions.
Circuit Training: Circuit training is also great for weight loss. Circuit training consists of back to back exercises that are performed with very little rest in-between. A typical circuit may be set out like this:
10 Bodyweight squats
5 Press ups/Push ups
20 second rest
15 Squat Thrusts (also known as burpees)
150 Knee Ups
10 second rest
20 Star jumps
15 Bodyweight Crunches
Circuit training can be intense and should leave you tired and out of breath at the end. Circuit training differs slightly from other types of cardio by including a number of strength and bodyweight exercises in the routine helping you build a small amount of strength while improving your fitness levels at the same time. Strength and bodyweight exercises can be made harder by adding more resistance or reps to the exercises once you get fitter and stronger.