The Best Exercises to Burn Major Calories

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

If you are a busy parent, who spends his or her day in a chaotic hurricane cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, and carting kids to and from school then finding the most efficient and effective exercises is critical.

So, which cardio exercises burn the most calories?

Fitness experts say the answer is not exactly as clear cut as most people think.

When it comes to cardio training there are two major categories: "Slow and Steady" and "High Intensity." The former consists of low intensity exercises that help preserve your joints and are done for roughly 60 minutes at a time. In contrast, "High Intensity" cardio training is done in shorter spurts (about 20-30 minutes per exercise) and consists of intense physical activity.

If you only have 30 minutes per day to exercise consider sticking with the following exercises. But remember: the more energy you exert in each exercise plays a big part in how many calories you burn per 30-minute session.

RUNNING. Running burns serious calories if you are moving at a decent pace. For example, a person who weighs 145 pounds can easily burn 350-400 calories in 30 minutes running an eight and a half minute mile. However, by picking up the pace and running a seven-minute mile, the same person can burn an extra 180 calories an hour (or 90 calories in 30 minutes).

BIKING. Riding on a stationary bike or a traditional bicycle in the outdoors is a great way to burn calories, depending on resistance and speed. A moderate ride can burn between 250 to 500 calories in 30 minutes.

SWIMMING. This is an excellent full body exercise whereby you can expect to burn about 400 calories in 30 minutes by doing the breaststroke at a moderate pace.

RACQUETBALL. A 145-pound person can burn roughly 415 calories in 30 minutes during an average game of racquetball in which there is a moderate amount of side-to-side sprinting done.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING. Whether you do so on a machine or outdoors, cross-country skiing is a terrific cardio activity that involves both the upper and lower body. A 145-pound person can burn approximately 350 calories in 30 minutes by cross-country skiing at a moderate pace.

ELLIPTICAL TRAINER. A 145-pound person can burn about 300-350 calories in 30 minutes when working out on an elliptical trainer set between levels 3 and 5.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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