With the warm weather right around the corner … we know a lot of you are looking for ways to help get rid of some more body fat before pool season hits.
The most common one people go to first is extra cardio added to your routine. This is great, but what kind of cardio is best?
Cardio is very beneficial for fat loss for several key reasons including:
- Extra Calorie Burn: Cardio exercises elevate your heart rate and increase calorie expenditure. More cardio added to your routine helps create a calorie deficit more efficiently.
- Improved metabolism: Doing cardio on the regular can boost your metabolic rate. Your metabolic rate is what keeps your body burning calories at a higher rate for a period of time after exercising.
- Sustained Fat Loss: Consistent cardio can improve long term fat loss.
- Mental and Emotional Benefits: Regular cardio workouts can also help reduce stress. Having lower stress levels can lead to less stress-related eating behaviors.
There are many different types of cardio you can perform such as walking, running, biking, HIIT, elliptical, Stairmaster, rowing, and even dancing and boxing.
You can do any of these multiple times a week and see very similar benefits from them all. The best form of cardio is going to be the one you enjoy doing and is easier for you to stick to.
Consistency is going to be what gets you where you want to be. The BEST form of cardio is one you know you can do consistently. If you aren’t much of a runner… running isn’t going to be the one for you.
While cardio is very effective for burning calories and losing fat, it's most effective when combined with strength training and a proper diet.
Strength training helps preserve and build lean muscle mass, which in turn increases your resting metabolic rate and helps your body burn more calories at rest. So, a balanced approach of both cardio and strength training is often the most successful for fat loss.
There are also supplements out there that can help with boosting metabolism and burning that stubborn body fat as well.
If you need assistance in coming up with a plan for you, stop in to your local S2 store where our NASM Certified Personal Trainers and Nutrition Coaches can make sure you are following something personalized to you and your goals.