by James - This article may contain affiliate links.
If you want to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, you should move at least 3 times a week. However, depending on your aims, it matters what kind of exercise you choose.
A cardio workout is a type of training that develops your cardiovascular system, your heart and the capacity of the lung. Also, it helps lose weight and boost your endurance.
The best form of cardio, without a doubt, is running. But, I know a lot of people who do not like running at all. Unfortunately, I’m among them.
The good news is that there are various alternatives that are as beneficial and maybe more enjoyable for you.
Below you can find the best alternatives for running.
1. Riding Bike
Cycling is a cyclic exercise, as you perform the same move over and over again. Just like running it raises your pulse, blood circulation and works your muscles. The advantage of riding a bike is that it spare your joints better than running.
With a light training outside or on your exercise bike you can burn about 300 calories per hour. But, if you do interval training with sprints, that number can go up to 700-800 calories.
Recommended: Want to protect your joints even better? Get a recumbent exercise bike.
2. Swimming
Well, it is out of the question that swimming is the healthiest way of training. If you start swimming regularly, you will be able to see notable changes in short a period of time.
It strengthens all the muscle groups and develops the capacity of your lung drastically. Also, because of the resistance of the water, you can burn fat faster.
Of course, the number of burned calories depends on the style of the swimming. But, even with slow breaststroke, you can burn over 600 calories per hour.
Finally, we should not forget the positive effects of swimming on your spine and joints. It develops your posture efficiently.
3. Jump Roping
This simply equipment is not just for kids. There is a good reason why fighters do jump roping. It has helped me a lot to burn fat and boost my stamina. For me, it is the winner.
It is a cheap exercise equipment and can be done at home. With a 30 minutes jump roping you can burn more than 400 calories! Get one here.
4. Dance Training
Aerobic dancing is excellent to develop flexibility and strength. And the faster types are good to burn fat as well.
Also, working out in groups are more efficient because of the community and the motivational factors. No, matter what type of dance training you do, you can burn about 500 calories per hour.
Recommended: Fat Burning Hip Hop Cardio Workouts
5. Rowing
Among the cardio equipment, the rowing machine is the winner for me. It is not only a powerful way to burn calories, but for shaping the legs, arms, chest, and back. It even works your abs.
Another advantage of using a rowing machine is that you can set the resistance so that you can do interval training. Depending on the resistance, speed and your weight you can burn about 300-400 calories in 30 minutes. (source)
Do you want to get a rower for home? Check out the top rowing machines here.
6. Boxing & Kickboxing
A few years ago when I decided to lose weight and develop my body, I started running. But it was not my cup of tea. So, I was searching for an alternative, and this is how I started boxing.
I bought a punching bag and gloves, and I started training. I did not think that punching a bag is such a tough activity. To tell the truth, I could do it only for 1 minute first.
These days, I do 8-12 rounds of 3-minutes sets with 1-minute rest. The results? I feel my endurance and cardiovascular system has never been so good like now.
Besides, it is a perfect acclivity to release stress. I have already shared cardio kickboxing workouts here and boxing HIIT workouts here. Try them! You will feel the burn for sure!
7. Bodyweight Exercises
This list would not be complete without mentioning bodyweight moves that are perfect for cardio training such as jumping jacks, burpees, high knees, squat jumps, etc.
Combine these exercises and do circuits. You can find a lot of different fat burning workouts here..
Check the video below to learn 70 moves here.
Bottom Line
If you have tried running, and you do not enjoyed it, do not care about it. Do any of these activities above, and you will get the same results. The first you can do is that if you do not do cardio workouts.
Do you have other running alternative ideas? Don’t forget to share with us in the comment section below.
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