Top 10 Cardio Exercises
Feb 23rd, 2010 | By Admin | Category: Health & Wellness, activities, healthyby Maria Lianos
We all know that the most important thing you can do for heart health as well as weight loss is regular cardiovascular exercise. With so many to choose from, which exercises are the most effective?
Here are the top 10 cardio exercises which burn the most calories in 30 minutes.
- 1. Step Aerobics. Step Aerobics is a tough workout and a popular choice among women. Targeting your legs, hips and glutes, areas of choice for women particularly, you can burn approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes. Take a step class at your gym, or buy a DVD to do at home.
2. Swimming. Doing the breast stroke for 30 minutes and you can burn about 400 calories. The best part is that it’s a full body exercise and low-impact so its easy on your joints.
3. Bicycling. Get your heart pumping with a stationary or outdoor bike. Depending on resistance and speed, you can burn 250 to 500 calories in 30 minutes.
4. Racquetball/Handball. The side to side sprinting makes racquetball or handball an excellent cardio workout. A 145-lb person burns over 400 calories in 30 minutes.
5. Rock Climbing. Are you up for a challenge? Not afraid of heights? Try rock climbing and you can burn a whopping 380 calories in 30 minutes, and you’re also building arm and leg strength.
6. Cross-Country Skiing. Embrace the winter and go cross-country skiing, another full-body exercise that you can enjoy outdoors. Not so fond of the cold? Use an indoor machine that simulates the motion. A 145 lb person can burn approx 330 calories in 30 minutes.
7. Running. Running is an excellent cardio workout because all you need is a pair of good running shoes. You can burn serious calories especially if you add hills and sprint running. A 145 LB person can easily burn 300 calories in 30 minutes. But you do have to watch your joints for injuries.
8. Elliptical Trainer. The elliptical is a great way to build endurance while protecting your joints. Use both arms and it’s like a cross-country ski machine. Easy on the joints, a 145-lb person can shed about 300 calories in 30 minutes. 
9. Rowing. Rowing can really get your heart pumping as give your arms a tough workout. A 145 LB person can burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.
10. Walking. Brisk walking is a less strenuous form of cardio exercise but you can burn up to 180 calories in 30 minutes. Sprinting, adding hills or an incline can increase amount of calories burned.
I love swimming! You just inspired me to get back in the pool!
I do cardio exercising at home myself to lose some weight, which I’m also blogging about. Your blog is interesting.