How To Burn More Calories In Less Time

June 16 2014

How To Burn More Calories In Less Time

With all of the the fad diets and complicated exercise machines out there, it’s easy to forget about what really matters in weight loss: calories. Turning a blind eye to your daily caloric intake to exercise ratio, however, will make your goals more difficult to achieve. Whether you’re trying to lose 5 pounds or 50 (or even more), you should focus on calorie-burning exercises.

Focus on Cardio

If your primary goal is to burn calories and lose weight, you should focus your workout regimen around cardio exercises. There’s nothing wrong with performing some occasional high-intensity strength training (HIIT), but the bulk of your exercise should be cardio. Cardio speeds up the heart and lungs while keeping your body moving, all of which results in more calories being burned.

Here are some calorie-burning cardio exercises:

• Running
• Jogging
• Jump roping
• Swimming
• Dancing
• Biking
• Elliptical
• Basketball
• Tennis

Get Off The Couch

Did you know that standing burns 50% more calories than sitting? Rather than sitting on the couch to talk on the phone, perhaps you can stand up and walk around.

This isn’t going to miraculously make you lose weight, but it’s a small step in the right direction. And once you begin to make better choices for your health, all of your dieting and exercise will come together and you’ll begin see the results of your hard work.

Consume More Caffeine

Several studies have found that people who consume moderate amounts of caffeine burn more calories than people who don’t consume this stimulant. How does caffeine burn calories? This is a question that remains up for debate, but some scientists attribute caffeine’s calorie-burning properties to thermogenesis — the chemical process in which the body generates heat and energy during food digestion. Drink a cup or two of caffeinated coffee before exercising for an added boost of energy.

Cut Back on The Sugar

Sugar is one of the worst things you can put into your body, especially for people trying to lose weight. It promotes body fat by adding unnecessary calories. And to make matters worse, most Americans consume far more than the recommended 25 grams per day limit.

If you have a sweet tooth, grab a piece of fruit to satisfy your cravings instead of a processed snack with refined sugar. Fruit sugars are different than refined sugars, as they release more slowly and are easier to digest.