Using Cardio Exercises to Lose the Weight

In the 70s, people began to go crazy over aerobic exercises which entailed crazy, colorful outfits with fluffy socks. But despite the fact that it sometimes looks ridiculous - especially if there are many of you in colorful outfits exercising at the same time - aerobic exercise is a great way to achieve fat loss.

Today, aerobic exercises are often called cardio activities. Cardio, or cardiovascular activities are activities that are good for the heart. Cardio exercises are not necessarily limited only to aerobic exercises but aerobic exercises are the most common. Aerobic exercises uses oxygen as fuel which is why those activities burn calories. These exercises induce fast heart rates and utilize oxygen.

Cardio exercises are typically running, brisk walking, hiking, and rowing. If you do your exercises indoors, like in the gym or in your home, treadmills and recumbent bicycles are used. It really doesn't matter what kind of exercise you engage in - whether it's walking or bicycling - what matter's is that you enjoy it. Losing fats and exercising doesn't have to be torture.

It has been recently proven that certain methods of weight lifting can also aerobic in nature. Long sessions in weight training which utilizes short rests and supersets can be aerobic because it does not let the heart rate drop and therefore still utilizes oxygen.

If you really want to utilize cardio exercises so you can lose weight and have optimum fat loss, high intensity interval training is the way to go. It is an exercise routine that - from the title - shifts intensity from high to moderate. The routine typically consists of a warm up, with minute-long intervals. An example would be something like running (outdoors or on treadmill) for 5mph, then moving up to 6mph the next minute, then running for 7mph the next. This goes on until, lets say 8mph, and then you go back down to 5mph and repeat the pattern.

The advantages of this type of cardio exercise are that because of the high intensity of the activity, you will burn more calories and lose fat in a shorter period. And also, after a high intensity interval training, you can also burn calories from the exercise post oxygen consumption which means that your body still uses oxygen as it recovers.

But in everything, there is a disadvantage. Because the training is of high intensity, you cannot prolong it. The average number of high intensity interval training is about 3-4 sessions a week. This type of activity also needs more time for your body to recover from the intense exercise.

If you continue this kind of training, your body will grow stronger and it will take more intensity each session, causing you to work more and burn more. It is usually best to consult a training expert or a personal trainer to compose a routine with an accompanying diet that is right for your body type and lifestyle.

And remember, just because you exercise does not mean you can eat everything you want in great amounts. Exercising is more than losing weight so you can look good, it is about creating a healthy lifestyle.

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