Fitness

Beware These 3 Workouts That Only Burn Time and Not Calories!

Any workout is better than no workout at all, but some routines are just burning more time than they are actual calories.

An effective workout routine is one that burns serious calories and that challenges your heart and lungs. This is how you lose weight and keep it off, and keep your cardiovascular system healthy.  Check out these common workouts that may be burning nothing more than time, and which aren’t challenging or accomplishing anything!

When you work out, you want to burn calories and raise your heart rate and breathing levels. Burning extra calories is the only way to lose stored body fat and to keep it off, and challenging the heart and lungs is what keeps them strong and healthy.

Just about any workout is going to be better than doing nothing, however, this doesn’t mean that everything you do by way of a workout is going to be effective for getting you into shape! Some so-called workouts burn more time than they do calories, and may have little effect on your heart rate and your breathing.

If you’re really serious about getting into shape and staying in shape, and about having a healthy heart and better breathing, consider some workouts that may be nothing more than time wasters, and how you can tweak those workouts to make them more effective for you.

#1 Walking

Source
Source

Walking can be very good exercise, especially for those who are heavyset and who cannot handle anything too strenuous. It’s easy as anyone can go for a walk around their neighborhood, without investing in costly equipment or gym memberships.

However, walking does very little to burn calories and challenge your heart and lungs. A leisurely stroll will increase your heart rate and breathing, but just slightly. Depending on your body weight and pace when you walk, you might burn no more than 50 or 100 calories per hour more when you walk than when you sit on the couch.

Try this instead:  A leisurely stroll will be better than nothing, but turn that leisurely stroll into something more challenging for better results. A brisk walk will burn more calories and challenge your heart and lungs. You can also incorporate some quick spurts of jogging or sprints with your walking for an even greater challenge and to burn more calories.

Try walking briskly for several minutes and then jog for at least a minute, and then repeat this cycle. You’ll not only burn calories but will work your heart and lungs, making them stronger and healthier.

#2 Exercise Bikes

Exercise Bike

Like walking, exercise bikes can be a great choice for those just starting out and for those who are very overweight. An exercise bike takes the weight off the knees and ankles so someone who is obese can work out without damaging their joints.

One drawback to exercise bikes however is that they usually work just the largest muscles of the legs, and once these are trained, you are no longer challenging yourself.  Many women are also very guilty of cycling at a slow pace so that, like walking leisurely, they are burning very few calories and are not challenging their heart and lungs.

Try this instead:  If you use an exercise bike, try the upright variety as this will be more challenging to the muscles. The recumbent style that allows you to lean back takes weight off the legs so they’re not working so hard.  Mix up the resistance and speed so you can feel your muscles working hard.  If your time on the bike isn’t challenging, it’s just time wasted. Use varying speeds and resistance levels to improve your routine, or switch to something more challenging altogether.

#3 Aerobics

aerobocs class

Aerobic exercises have been popular since the 1980s, when thin and athletic figures were seen as sexy, and actress Jane Fonda turned women onto the idea of doing aerobics in their own home for weight loss and fitness.  Since then they’ve been a staple at gyms everywhere, and have evolved into dozens of different styles and types, from water aerobics to step aerobics to classes that incorporate dance and Pilates moves.

Since aerobics are so popular and seem so effective, why would they be thought of as a waste of time? As with walking, bike riding, and every other type of exercise, their effectiveness depends on the level of effort exerted.  Some women are very serious about their aerobics classes and exert all the effort needed to challenge themselves and really train their heart and lungs, but others may only put in minimal effort and move their bodies very little during class.

Some standard aerobics can also become ineffective after you’ve done the class repeatedly, as they train certain muscles and are no longer challenging you.

Try this instead: First be sure you’re exerting maximum effort during any aerobics class. You may notice that the instructor and other participants tend to “bounce” slightly between each step rather than standing flat on the ground. This extra bounce keeps the body moving and keeps calories burning at maximum levels.

It’s also good to mix up your aerobics classes. If you’ve been taking the same class for years or even months, chances are it’s no longer challenging. A slow pace of walking back and forth with the occasional jumping is better than sitting on the couch, but overall, this doesn’t accomplish much when it comes to burning calories and training your cardiovascular system.

Opt for something new, such as step aerobics, Jazzercise, Zumba, or even belly dancing. You might also try a spinning class, and any type of class that incorporates resistance training so you’re training your muscles.  Mix up the aerobics classes you take so you are always burning maximum calories and know you’re getting a strong heart and strong lungs.  Take step aerobics one day, Zumba the next, and regular aerobics the day after, and so on.

Do you agree that many of these workout routines are burning more time than they are calories?  What do you do to ensure that you get the most from any routine, whether on your own or at the gym?  Share your comments and tips below!

About the author

Rachel G

Rachel is a health and fitness enthusiast with interests in world culture, psychology, and philosophy, she’s also a romantic with a passion for writing and for helping women live the best life possible.

Add Comment

Click here to post a comment