The Best Cardio Workout to Burn Fat Quickly

The Two Common Cardio Workout Approaches

If your goal is to burn body fat, you have a few different approaches to chose from. The majority of trainers recommend you take the low intensity approach to cardio. The idea behind doing cardio at a low intensity level is that most of the calories burned will come from body fat. Many people believe that if you workout too hard, you are burning carbohydrate energy in the body and not targeting fat. Many people make the point that more total calories are burned if people exercise at a higher intensity level. They reason that if you simply burn more calories than you consume in a day, you will lose body fat. So now we will look in more detail at each school of thought.

Low Intensity Cardio Workout Approach

Low intensity cardio is the most popular form of cardio and is pushed by many personal trainers. Low intensity cardio works at targeting body fat and that is why it is recommended by many personal trainers. University studies have proven low intensity cardio uses fat calories instead of burning muscle carbohydrate calories for energy. If the body burns fat for energy, you will lose body fat. It just makes sense. It is important to choose cardio machines that can track your heart rate. It will let you monitor your heart rate during your cardio workout to allow you to hit the ideal intensity level. After about 10 minutes or so, you should be close to reaching your ideal heart rate. Staying within that target heart rate for at least 30 minutes is what is recommended by most experts.

The High Intensity Cardio Workout

This is a less utilized form of cardio. High intensity training involves pushing past your pain threshold a bit, so fewer people choose this route. This cardio method can give great results in burning body fat if done properly. The total calories burned in high intensity cardio are greater than low intensity cardio. Some of those calories come from your body fat and some come from glycogen (carbohydrates stores within your muscles). When you burn more calories in your cardio workout than what you consume, you create a calorie deficit. If you burn a more calories during the day than what you eat in food, you will lose weight.

The Limitations of the 2 Types of Cardio Workouts

Once you get your heart rate up to the correct level, the low intensity cardio workout will burn body fat. The downside is that it can take up to 10 minutes to get your heart rate to the correct level to burn body fat. The first 10 minutes of this cardio workout are somewhat unproductive. High intensity cardio is hard to maintain for long periods of time since it takes a lot of effort. Working at an intense level for over 10-15 minutes is extremely difficult.

How to Combine The Two Approaches Into One Awesome Cardio Workout

When performed in a certain manner, it is possible to benefit from doing both types of cardio in the same workout. You can make the first ten minutes of the low intensity cardio workout productive, by starting your cardio workout off at a high intensity level. Find a treadmill or exercise bike and set it at a high level. Push yourself really hard for 10-15 minutes. Once you are really working up a sweat, switch to a low intensity and keep it there for 20-30 minutes. This will burn calories and create a calorie deficit as well as burning body fat during the workout. I maintain an 8% body fat percentage year round using this cardio approach.

Try Doing Your Cardio Workouts at Home

Some people who want to start exercising prefer to do cardio exercises at home. This could be because they don't feel comfortable joining a gym, either they cannot afford the gym fees or they simply want to reach a certain level before opting for a gym membership.

The truth is that while a gym may have lots of cardio equipment, you can certainly reach high levels of fitness by doing cardio workouts at home.

There are a number of methods that you can use to increase your cardio fitness and here are just a few to get you thinking.

Using a treadmill is a great method to get fit, you can use it for walking or running all in the comfort of your own home. The positives are that you won't have to feel self conscious as you would if you were running outside. The downside is that a treadmill can be costly, but if you can afford it, it will be a great investment.

A stationary bike is another great piece of equipment. The positives are that you won't get hit by a car, you can place it front of your television and start pedalling, and you can pick up a stationary bike pretty cheaply these days. There is no real downside to this equipment.

Using a rowing machine to do your cardio workouts at home is a great method. The rowing machine will work all areas of your body and you will burn a lot of calories by using it. Again there is no downside to this product and it can also be purchased cheaply.

You can buy a workout dvd and follow the steps on your television. This is a good way to improve your cardio fitness. Just make sure that you buy a dvd that is going to work you, be wary of some of the celebrity workout dvds out there which entail you waving your arms and legs around while putting on lipstick.

If you really want to save money, buy a skipping rope. This is one of the simplest bits of equipment that you will ever use, but do not underestimate the results that skipping can provide. Remember that skipping is a staple of a boxer's training program, and boxers are some of the fittest people on the planet. There's a reason that they skip.

If you don't want to spend any money at all then try stair climbing. Just walk up and down your stairs for 10-20 minutes and see how you feel afterwards, this is one of the best cardio workouts at home that you can do, it will get your blood pumping, your lungs panting, and improve your heart, best of all it's free.

Apart from all these methods there are lots of other exercises you can do just using your body. You could do squats, squat thrusts, running on the spot, dancing, jumping, and many more.

The thing about doing cardio workouts at home is all about willpower and motivation. Decide what you are going to do, make a plan and write it down, then stick to it until it becomes a habit, just like brushing your teeth or taking a shower.

Don't ever think about your workouts with dread, just think of them as something that has to be done for your own health and welfare. No negotiations, no ' I can't find the time today', and don't ever put them off for any reason (unless you are ill).

You can get all the benefits from doing your cardio workouts at home, you don't need expensive equipment or to join a gym, all you need is to make the decision and start.

Best Cardio Equipment For Toning Abs - What is the Top Equipment to Tone Your Stomach?

People differ when it comes to how they want their abs to look like. Some would dream of a six-pack abs while some simply want it flat. Whichever group you belong to, one of the ways to get a sexy mid section is to do cardio exercises. Whether you want a toned abs or you wish to get rid of your love handles or beer gut, start performing cardiovascular exercises now. There are a lot of choices when it comes to equipment that can help you work out.

Here is a list of the best cardio equipment you should have:

1. Dumbbells, barbells and other free weights are the most simple abs equipment; just hold them in your hand as you work out. Aside from strengthening your arms, they also help in increasing resistance. The heavier weight you use, the more resistance it offers and more effort is needed on your part. When toning your abs, you can use free weights especially when lying on the floor to strengthen your abdomen.

2. Stability balls look like beach balls except that they are heavier and sturdier. When doing cardio exercises, stability balls offer back and stomach support. Aside from support, these balls will also give you a variety of exercise options as you work on your abs, thighs, and butt. They are often paired with free weights.

3. Benches are good when doing crunches and other exercises aimed at toning your abs. This equipment, however, is recommended for people who can work out on their own. For more resistance, weights are also paired with benches.

These equipment pieces can help you in quickly toning your stomach. However, their proper use is important and if you are new in using these cardio pieces, then it would be better to ask for an expert's assistance until you can manage to work out on your own.

Now you want to have more energy, be Healthier, look Younger, lose weight, and cleanse your body, right?