Cardiovascular training is a great way to not only improve overall health, but just about the best way possible to remove body fat stores and improve your physique to be much leaner. Here is our list of the top 10 cardio exercises available.

#1 – Running / Jogging

If you ask any professional bodybuilder if they get their cardio from running or jogging, they will most likely tell you no. Most bodybuilders that are very heavy find it is painful on the joints sometimes to always be running. The reason this is in the number one spot, however, is simply because running is just about the best way to burn calories that most everyone can do. You don’t need special equipment and can do it just about anywhere. Many people might jog down to the store or jog on a tredmill at the gym. Either way, running is the best way to burn calories in mass numbers.

#2 – Bicycling
Bicycling is great for people that do not like to run or feel running is painful. A lot of people that are obese and are just starting off on the road to weight loss may find it much more comfortable to bike. Also, you can add it into your everyday schedule. You could ride your bike to work, to the store, anywhere. Stationary bikes are a great way to ride at the comfort of your own home. I use my stationary bike to shed hundreds of calories while I’m watching movies and even typing on the computer sometimes! Bicycling burns a lot of calories and with more resistance can give your legs and glutes a good workout.

#3 – Swimming

Swimming is a full body exercise that will wear you out-in the good way of course. We all remember playing games in the pool with our friends at a younge age don’t we? Remember how good we slept that night? There are so many exercise routines that you can do in the pool to to lose fat fast. Also, this is prefered by older people and people trying to rehabilitate themselves after an injury. A lot of calories are burned with this exercise, and even more can be burned depending on how much of your body you use while you’re swimming.

#4 – The Step Mill
The step mill machine is prefered by a lot of bodybuilders that are trying to get cut for a bodybuilding competition. Many have said the stepmill is the hardest piece of cardio equipment to use. I know what you’re thinking-what more of an incentive to go use it, huh? This is a great way to shed calories and get your heart rate up. The step mill basicly simulates walking up stairs, just in a stationary position so you can keep going for a long period of time. You may also feel a great burn while using this piece of equipment.

#5 – Step Aerobics
Step aerobics is one of the best ways to burn calories while having fun. Your ideal place to do this is in a gym, usually with a group of people and a class instructor. You can work out your glutes, your hips, your legs and more. Step aerobics are easy to learn and can help you burn calories without even thinking about it. You may develop certain routines while listening to music and do it with your friends. This cardio workout is very easy to learn and can like all other cardio workouts, combining this with high intensity interval training can help get you shredded.

#6 – Walking / Powerwalking
Walking is great not only because it’s something most everyone can do, but it’s something that you can plug into your everyday lifestyle with ease. Whether your workout is long with low intensity or you’re keeping the intensity and duration moderate, you may find walking to be easier on the joints. Walking and talking with a friend is an excellent way to burn calories without thinking about it along with listening to an MP3 player. Power walking can be a happy medium between walking and jogging that you find is easiest to get a great workout.

#7 – Basketball / Soccer / Other Sports
Some of you may be wondering why this isn’t in the number one spot. For one, not all people can do these sports and many people may dislike certain sports. However, for those that love to play basketball, soccer, and sports where you need to constantly be running, dodging, shooting with high intensity proves to be just about the best thing you can do to burn calories. These sports, in a way, combine almost all of the above cardio workouts into one. The downside to this is that unless you’re keeping the intensity real low or playing by yourself, you are at risk for certain injuries from more dangerous sports. Not everyone is already athletic and may find sports hard to do.

#8 – Elliptical Machine

Getting your cardio from the elliptical machine is excellent for those that find running is too hard and painful. With this machine you can achieve a full body cardio workout to help you burn more calories quickly, depending on the intensity. This machine may take some getting used to, or you may happen to adapt without a problem. These machines can be found in gyms and can be bought for home usage but they can be pretty space consuming and expensive. As with machines such as the tredmill and stationary bike, you can choose specific workouts and with some machines, listen to music and watch tv.

#9 – Rowing
Rowing can be done either on the machine or out in the water inside of a canoe. If you have the ability to take something out into a lake you may find it more fun and unique. However, the machine can give you a greater range of motion that can allow you to use more of your body, resulting in a greater workout. Although rowing is great, it is not higher in the list due to the fact that it is a simple, repetitive motion that may cause boredom very quickly. Using an MP3 player can help and if you can tolerate using this machine then you can burn a lot of calories.

#10 – Circuit Training
Circuit, like sports, can combine many of the cardio exercises listed above to achieve a unique and intense workout. Although this is listen in the top cardio exercises, you may use it for strength and muscular endurance training as well using different exercises. Circuit training involves completing one cardio exercise, such as running, and then moving to another exercise such as the rowing machine, and then to another one until your specific routine is satisfied. This is an excellent way to keep an intense cardio workout and burn many calories. It may, however, be too strenuous to many unconditioned people.

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