If You Are Looking For Alternatives To Running, Try These Exercises!
If you are like me, you cringe when you hear the words “Let’s go for a run!”. While running can be great for some people, it’s not for everyone. I personally find running to be quite boring. For those suffering from arthritis or knee pain, running is not even an option when it comes to exercise. The good news is there are plenty of alternatives to running that will not only give you an effective workout but will also burn more calories in the process!
The following article reveals some of these exercises that can be done without having to strap on your running shoes. For those using a dislike of running to avoid exercise, I apologize in advance!
See the exercises below and be sure to pass this along to those individuals that do not like to run or simply can’t run. They will thank you for it!
1. Kettlebell Swing: This explosive exercise works the big, powerful muscles around your glutes and quads and sends your heart into overdrive, according to research from the University of Wisconsin. In the study, participants burned 20.2 calories a minute and their average heart was 93% of its max for the course of a 20-minute workout. “The kettlebell swing works you so hard because it’s not a movement you’re used to,” says Dan John, a strength coach in Salt Lake City and the author of Intervention. “You’re not super efficient at it, which taxes your body.” C
2. Burpees: A 180-pound person burns about 1.43 calories per burpee, says exercise scientist and Spartan Coach Jeff Godin. So if you can hammer out at least seven a minute you’re in the double digits. But you should shoot to average at least 10 every 60 seconds, or a rate of 14.3 calories per minute. Why? Performing just 10 reps at a fast pace can rev your metabolism as much as a 30-second, all-out bike sprint, according to a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting. Watch the video below, then click here to see how to do burpees.
3. Fat-Tire Biking: If you haven’t tried this fast-growing cycling sport, you should. You can burn up to 1,500 calories an hour — or nearly 25 calories per minute — pedaling the heavy, hard-to-turn monster bikes and tackling all types of terrain, all year round, says Mike Curiak, record holder for the 1,000-mile Iditasport Impossible, a fat tire biking race. Reality check: That kind of calorie burn depends on your fitness and strength levels, and your skill. But regardless, it’s sure to be one hell of workout.
image source: fattirebike.co
How about you? Do you like to run? What exercises do you like to do that are better than running? Leave a comment below!
See the full list of alternative exercises at Skinny Mom here.
