We all know that exercising burns calories, but what a lot of people don’t know, is that they could easily be burning more calories each time they workout. A lot of people exercise very inefficiently; they burn 1000 calories when they could be burning 1,500. There are a lot of simple strategies that you can use to increase the number of calories that you burn during each workout session. When I say “increase,” I mean it. You can burn up to 50% more calories each session.
Cut the downtime
Exercising and burning calories is all about keeping your heart rate up. So, it is important that you minimize downtime while working out, otherwise, your heart rate will fall and you will end up burning fewer calories. Try to keep your breaks as short as possible; depending on what exercise you are doing, your downtime should only be around thirty seconds, and never more than a minute.
Drink cold water
A British study found that those who drink cold water during their exercises tend to exercise for significantly longer. Obviously, the longer you exercise the more calories you burn. So, if you aren’t already drinking cold water periodically throughout your workout, ditch the sports drinks and just drink plain, ice water.
Use your arms
Many people forget to use their arms when they are using exercise machines like ellipticals and treadmills. You can still get a good workout without using your arms, but then you aren’t going to be burning as many calories as you should be able to. So, next time you step on a treadmill or an elliptical, try working out your arms. If you are on an elliptical, actually grab the handles. The act of your arms being pulled forward and then back works out muscles in your arms and burns extra calories.
Replace walking with lunges
When people slow down during their workout, they tend to start walking so that they aren’t remaining completely stationary. This is true whether they are running on trails or using a treadmill. While walking is good, there is an alternative that is even better for burning calories. Instead of walking to regain energy, try doing lunges. Lunges are slow, so you can still regain your breath and get some energy back. At the same time, lunges also burn more calories and work out more muscle groups than walking; it also keeps your heart rate up.
In conclusion, burning more calories when you exercise is possible and can be achieved with a combination of proper nutrition, intensity of exercise, and duration of exercise. By following these tips, you can reach your fitness goals and achieve the results you desire. Remember to stay hydrated and to listen to your body to ensure that you are exercising safely and effectively.
