Have you found yourself a situation such as this? You’re standing in the grocery checkout aisle waiting to pay. As you inch closer to the cash register, you catch a glimpse of the cover of a fitness magazine with a buff-looking model on the cover. You think, in the back of your mind: “Wouldn’t it be AMAZING to look like them?”
You shake your head, think that it’s not possible, and carry on. However, what you don’t realise is that getting fit – and developing a body that looks lean and healthy – isn’t out of your reach. Take a look.
A fitness model’s physique
The reason why fitness models have such well-defined bodies is that they don’t have a lot of fat on them which hides their muscles.
People often say that they don’t have abdominal muscles because they can’t see that they have a six pack. As a result, they do crunches, sit-ups and other types of abdominal exercises in an attempt to help them develop a great mid-section.
However, after following this regime for a while, they wonder why they aren’t developing the set of abs that they want. Their abdominal muscles are indeed getting stronger, however because they have a layer of fat masking these muscles it’s not possible to see the difference that is being made.
But don’t worry! There is a way of developing that slender mid-section that you’ve always wanted! In addition to doing your abdominal exercises you need to do a lot of cardio in order to burn off the unwanted fat.
What type of cardiovascular exercise is the best for burning fat and calories?
When you set foot in the gym, there are A LOT of choices for you to do your cardio training. For example, there are, for example:
- Bicycles
- Treadmills
- Elliptical Machines
- Step Machines
However, the question is what type of cardio is best for burning fat the quickest? Here is a list of some of the more common types of cardio training and how many calories they are responsible for burning.
Spinning
Also called indoor cycling, a spinning class is an instructor-led class of a group of people on stationary bikes. While pedalling, they perform sequences such as climbs, sprints (either seated or standing). This is done in order to work various muscle groups.
As this is a high-intensity workout, it burns A LOT of calories – between 400 and 600 if you push yourself hard. So, if you want to kick start your weight loss programme joining a spinning class is a good way to go!
Kettlebells
There’s a reason why the Russian military gets their soldiers to work out with these babies! During a 20-minute kettlebell workout you can burn about 400 calories. And, to top it all off, a kettlebell workout provides you with a great cardio workout in addition to a strength training workout because the kettlebells that you’re using provide you with resistance so that you can build your muscles.
While you’re blasting your fat cells with cardio training, it’s a good idea to do strength training. This is because it helps to build lean muscle mass. This helps to burn fat even while you’re at rest. Eating a protein-rich meal after you workout will also help to promote the development of this type of muscle. If you don’t have time to cook, there are a great many varieties of protein shakes that you can take in order to help you develop the type of muscle that you want.
Treadmill
One of the most basic pieces of equipment in any gym is the treadmill. Although sometimes discounted by serious fitness fundi’s, this piece of equipment has serious potential to help you burn fat! If you set the treadmill at an easy pace, you’ll burn upwards of 200 calories every 30 minutes. This depends on your body weight.
As you embark on your fitness journey, a great benefit is that you’ll start to lose weight. But remember that this will only happen if you’re consistent with your training. If you are unsure about any of the above methods of fitness it is always a good idea to consult with a personal trainer to help you achieve the results you want and stay away from any injuries you may occur.