What Are the Top 5 Aerobic Exercises?

What Are the Top 5 Aerobic Exercises?
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Aerobic exercise burns calories, which can help you lose body fat when paired with a sensible eating plan. But all aerobic activities are not equal; some burn more calories than others. If your goal is to become more physically fit by burning calories to achieve or maintain a healthy weight, you may need to perform more than the recommended 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days a week, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic. The time you spend performing an aerobic activity, along with the level of intensity of exercise, will determine how many calories you burn. If you want to torch calories, an analysis by the Mayo Clinic of the of calories burned during aerobic activity puts five at the top.

Running

For calorie burning, running at a steady pace of at least 8 mph is the most efficient aerobic exercise for weight loss. If a 160-lb. person runs at this pace for 1 hour, he will burn nearly 1,000 calories, according to Mayo Clinic. Of course, running at a faster pace will burn even more calories. Run on hilly terrain for an even more vigorous aerobic workout.

In-Line Skating

In-line skating is an enjoyable sport that burns a high amount of calories. Mayo Clinic states that an hour of skating burns more than 900 calories for a 160-lb. person. This sport uses multiple muscle groups as you push your legs out to move forward and use your upper body for balance. Like running, maintain a steady speed to maximize your workout.

Jumping Rope

Jumping rope should not just be a favorite activity among children; this activity burns a high number of calories as well. A 160-lb. person who jumps rope for an hour burns 730 calories, the Mayo Clinic reports. Try variations to this exercise to keep it interesting, such as skipping over the rope and jumping from side to side as you twirl the rope. Lift your knees as high as you can to burn even more calories.

Tae Kwon Do

Tae kwon is an artful form of self-defense that features a system of kicks, hits and blocks. A variety of movements and stances work multiple muscle groups in your body. Practicing this form of martial arts for an hour burns more than 700 calories for a 160-lb. person, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Stair Treadmill

Working out on a stair treadmill will burn a high number of calories. The Mayo Clinic states that using one of these pieces of equipment for an hour will burn more than 650 calories for a 160-lb. person. Climbing at a higher speed or intensity will burn even more calories to help you bast fat faster.

References

Article reviewed by Sharon Bohling Last updated on: Jun 26, 2011

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