Healthy Living

Monday, December 7, 2009

3 All-New Ways to Burn Up to 600 Calories

We see it all the time at the gym: You stand there staring at the machines trying to figure out which one will be the least boring and give you the biggest bang for your exercise efforts. Or you just climb on and maintain the same pace until you can’t stand it another minute. No wonder so many of us dread going to the gym! We all need to put the excitement— and results—back into our cardio sessions, so we asked top trainers for their most effective routines to blast calories, boost your metabolism, sculpt muscle, and free you from that “When will it end?” mind-set. The secret: Don’t just change things up every month, change them during every session.

THREE-WAY FAT BURNER

TRAINER Wendy Larkin, personal training manager, Crunch, San Francisco

WHAT YOU’LL NEED A jump rope, group cycling bike, and treadmill

CALORIES BURNED 450–500

“Alternating between different types of exercises allows you to push yourself to your limits—then briefly recover and do it again on the next piece of equipment—while using all your muscles,” says Larkin. “It’s with both feet, then gradually start alternating feet. If you can’t do 10 minutes, jump for 10 revolutions, then rest for 15 seconds. Add 10 revolutions at a time until you get to 10 minutes. When you’re cycling, begin with just enough resistance to feel a slight pull on the wheel, then increase it from there. During the standing portions, keep your butt over the seat and your legs over the pedals.


LOWER-BODY SCULPTOR

TRAINER Tracey Staehle, creator of the Walking Strong workout DVD (fitbytracey.com)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED A treadmill

CALORIES BURNED 200*

This “lofty” hill routine makes your lower body work extra hard, and the more you engage those large muscle groups , the more calories you burn. “Plus, things are changing frequently, so you have to stay focused—you can’t zone out,” says Staehle. “You’re constantly being confronted with a challenge, whether it’s speed-walking up a steep hill, jogging on an incline, or doing walking lunges.”

*CALORIE BURN IS BASED ON A 145-POUND WOMAN.

MEGA CALORIE BLASTER

TRAINER Paul Frediani, certifi ed USA Triathlon coach, New York City

WHAT YOU’LL NEED A watch with a second hand or a stopwatch

CALORIES BURNED 300–600

Runners and triathletes practice something called “tempo training”—maintaining an intensity that’s challenging but not so hard that you feel like you’re about to keel over. “It’s one of the best ways to improve your stamina, speed, and fi tness level,” says Frediani. Plus, you’re working at a point— about 80 percent of your max heart rate (go to shape.com/heartrate to calculate yours)—that optimizes both your fat and calorie burn . It takes practice to maintain this level for a long time, but this routine, which incorporates mini speed bursts, will help you nail it. Do it indoors or out while biking, running, or speed-walking. (You can also adapt it to almost any other cardio machine, from the rower to the elliptical.)



There are 3 additional ways to blast up to 600 claories! Visit Shape.com to find out how.


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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 75
  • Mrs. Carol B's Avatar
    Posted by Mrs. Carol B Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:02pm PDT

    I have a treadmill. Makes a great coat rack. Used to be a runner until each year I would sprain a different body part until I couldn't run any more. I'm working on losing weight mentally. Let you know when I figure out how to do it.

    Report Abuse
  • Samii's Avatar
    Posted by Samii Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:34pm PDT

    lol i just runnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Abuse
  • Samii's Avatar
    Posted by Samii Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:34pm PDT

    screw tryin to use a bike or tread mill

    Report Abuse
  • M's Avatar
    Posted by M Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:46am PDT

    frustrating article...and the exhibits are worse...what in the heck is an RPE? Not a clue.

    Report Abuse
  • Holly J's Avatar
    Posted by Holly J Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:19am PDT

    Is there any time that they do these calculations based on someone who isn't 145 pounds?!

    Report Abuse
  • Samx's Avatar
    Posted by Samx Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:38am PDT

    What are these routines for? We (I) don't understand what is RPE. can someone please explain in easy to understand these routines like (exercise for dummies) type of language. Also are these routines for everyday or just a couple of times per week, etc. How about for us that don't need to lose weight, just maintain it.

    Report Abuse
  • Di's Avatar
    Posted by Di Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:00am PDT

    RPE stands for Repitions Per Exercise. And yes I agree this routine is not explicit enough in the sense that it doesn't tell you how many days a week your suppose to do them.

    Report Abuse
  • darlene h's Avatar
    Posted by darlene h Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:07am PDT

    Spinning is a cardio program of stationary cycling that helps you lose the extra weight and release the tension during the day. I read at http://www.projectweightloss.com on what muscles it works. For spinning, the instructor is more focused on stimulate and motivate the participants. That is why spinning is associated with music and different rhythms for different speeds of pedal. During the workout, there are phases when you need to pedal as fast as you can, phases when you need to reduce speed, stand on your feet on the bicycle, and pedal.

    Report Abuse
  • Yolanda's Avatar
    Posted by Yolanda Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:54pm PDT

    I agree with several of the individuals who typed in a comment. I believe this article was poorly writen to help those who are not 145lbs. Plus, what is RPE?

    Report Abuse
  • Crystal's Avatar
    Posted by Crystal Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:21pm PDT

    I do wake at work and out whith kids. But I am not loss weight.Want can I do 250lbs. I like loss 123

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