|
Home / Fitness / Exercise
Aerobic Exercise for Weight Loss Can Be Fun
By:Jim Oneill
The word aerobic literally means "with oxygen" or "in the presence of oxygen." Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period of time and is rhythmic in nature. Aerobic exercises utilize oxygen as the major fuel for sustaining activity for relatively long periods.
In general, aerobic exercises are those activities that require large muscle work, elevate the heart rate to between 60 percent and 80 percent of maximal heart rate, are continuous in nature and are of 15 to 60 minutes in duration. An aerobically fit individual can work longer, more vigorously and achieve a quicker recovery at the end of the aerobic session.
Aerobic exercises fall in two categories:
Low to Moderate Impact aerobics – These include walking, swimming, stair climbing, step classes, light water aerobics, rowing and cross-country skiing. Nearly anyone in reasonable health can engage in some low- to moderate-impact exercise. Brisk walking burns more calories than jogging for the same distance because it takes more time to walk than jog that distance and poses less risk for injury to muscle and bone.
High-Impact aerobics – Activities that belong to this group include running, dance exercise, tennis, racquetball and squash. High-impact aerobics should be performed on alternate days. People who are overweight, elderly, out of condition or have an injury or other medical problem should do them even less frequently and only with clearance from their doctor.
Here are some of the many aerobic exercises you can do and because of the variety you have to choose from, it can not only take the bordum out of doing it, it can make doing it downright fun as well.
1. Walking
Walking is a popular form of exercise because it requires little in terms of equipment or facilities. Walking an extra 20 minutes each day will burn off 7 pounds of body fat per year. Longer, moderately-paced daily walks are best for losing weight.
2. Jogging/Running
In jogging or running, an individual is able to cover greater distances in a shorter period of time. Therefore, greater numbers of calories can be burned per time spent.
3. Choreographed Aerobic Exercise
Choreographed aerobic dance is a very popular form of exercise throughout the world. Aerobic dance helps in toning up the muscles of the body and many people find it fun to do as well.
4. Step Aerobics
Step aerobics incorporates the use of a step or bench typically about one foot wide and three feet long and about six inches high. Instructors use many moves that require participants to step up and down from the platform. This way, the activity will not be boring and tiring, but will be lively and motivating.
5. Water Aerobics
Water aerobics incorporates a variety of movements from both swimming and land aerobics to develop vigorous routines that are aerobic in nature. It utilizes the resistance to movement that water creates to elevate heart rates and also helps you if balancing yourself on land is difficult. It is a good way to lose weight.
6. Swimming
Swimming is a very popular form of regular exercise. Due to the resistance of water, the amount of energy required to swim a certain distance is greater than that needed to run or walk the same distance. In other words, swimming can burn more calories than running per time spent.
7. Stationary Cycling/Bicycling
Stationary cycling or bicycling are excellent forms of aerobic exercise when done continuously. Like swimming, cycling is a non weight bearing activity that builds muscular endurance and strength and improved flexibility of selected muscles of the legs and thighs.
8. Jumping Rope
Jumping rope can be a great aerobic workout as long as it is performed at a slow to moderate pace and is done continuously for a relatively long period of time (15 minutes or more).
The key to effective weight loss is through use of a healthy exercise program which is performed on a regular basis while following a healthy dieting & nutritional plan. Aerobic exercise is good for weight loss because it uses more calories than other activities and helps raise your metabolic rate.
This helps your body burn calories at a faster rate. It is an effective way to lose fat only if you are motivated enough to do it frequently. Aerobics only burns fat during the workout itself. So if you want encouraging results you need to be able to exercise daily and for longer periods.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: exercise, aerobic, muscle
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Jim O'Neill gives you tons of valuable information on the subjects of weight loss, fitness, and nutrition to make it easy for you to live a healthy lifestyle. Sign up now for his free 7 part mini e-course at: www.mrgymfitness.com/minicourse.php
|
|
| Top Exercise Articles |
- 1). Beginning Pointe- What to Expect By : Jenny Pemberton
Although every teacher is different, the goals of the introductory pointe class are similar no matter where you dance. These goals include strengthening the feet and ankles, breaking in the pointe shoes, and learning proper execution of skills while wearing pointe shoes.
To strengthen the feet, your teacher may instruct in a variety of methods including demi-pointe work, exercises for the feet and ankles, and basic releves at the barre.
|
- 2). Benefits of Pilates By : Evan_Margolin
Pilates is one of the most rewarding types of exercise because it encompasses stretch, strength and improves flexibility in the safest way while avoiding injury.
Pilates started as a way of rehabilitating athletes and dancers but is now used by millions of people across the globe because it is one of the safest forms of exercise.
Forget going for a run, pounding on pavement with the potential risk of getting shin splints, a knee injury or worse, falling and getting an even more severe injury.
|
- 3). Healthy Pregnancy: Pilates Helps Expecting Mothers By : Tracey Mallett
Most people think of Pilates as a new form of exercise because of its recent surge of popularity in the fitness and healthcare industry. In reality, Joseph Pilates invented about 80 years ago by.
Pilates was a sickly child with asthma. To help fight his illness and build his strength, he experimented with various mind-body disciplines and later became an accomplished skier, diver, gymnast, and boxer.
|
|
|
- 5). Workouts That Travel By : Lynn Bode
A vacation can do wonders for reducing stress levels, but it can derail a healthy fitness regimen. Even some of the most die-hard exercisers find it difficult to stick with a workout program when away from home. Sure, many have good intentions. They may even pack their workout attire. Unfortunately, their gear never makes it out of the suitcase until they're back home.
|
|
|
- 7). Replacing Fat With Lean Muscle By Exercising - How To Increase Your Muscle Mass By : Julia Mahler
Replacing fat with lean muscle by exercising is not easy - but it's also not as hard as you might think. The most important thing to remember when it comes to replacing fat with muscle is that you just need to find a plan or routine that works, and then stick with it. In most cases, this will not have to be a particularly strenuous routine, just so long as you continue working out regularly and consistently.
|
- 8). Exercise with a Fitness Trainer By : Isabel Curini
Even in the case of general fitness, training has its own well established rules. These rules refer to different aspects of doing the exercises: dosing (the number of series), repeating, intensity, rhythm, etc; but considering all these aspects is not enough. It is very important for the exercises to be performed correctly.
It is not easy at all for a beginner who has read something about fitness or to whom somebody described exactly how to do an exercise, to do it impeccably starting with the first sessions of training.
|
- 9). Proper Etiquette when in the Gym By : Jim Oneill
Most people who go to the gym to work out on a regular basis have had the experience of witnessing that one occasional big, burly, clumsy, noisy jerk that has absolutely no manners at all. This person will clang weights while exercising, drop weights on the floor then leave them there for someone else to put away and disregard the fact that anyone else is in the gym.
|
- 10). Aerobic Exercise for Weight Loss Can Be Fun By : Jim Oneill
The word aerobic literally means "with oxygen" or "in the presence of oxygen." Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period of time and is rhythmic in nature. Aerobic exercises utilize oxygen as the major fuel for sustaining activity for relatively long periods.
In general, aerobic.
|
| New Exercise Articles |
- 1). Three Benefits of Exercising on a Mini Trampoline or Rebounder By : Daniel Johnson
1. The jumping up and down motion involved in exercising on a rebounder is the best way to stimulate your lymphatic (immune) system. Your body’s lymph system consists of tubes containing lymphatic fluid. The tubes have one-way valves built into them. Each bounce opens and closes these valves, causing the lymphatic fluid to be pumped and circulated properly.
|
- 2). Mirror, Mirror on the Wall... By : Ainsley Laing
Body image is a topic that usually makes one think of teenaged girls starving themselves thin. But most people, no matter how old or young, have a feeling or image of the way their body should look. This image is composed of the actual view in the mirror combined with life experience, such as the image of our own younger/fitter/slimmer body, and the expectations of the way their body “should” look.
|
- 3). Walking the Weight Off By : ark
Why not start walking your weight off?
The utmost battle for any working mother is the obstruction of having time in their day to exercise. For stay-at-home mom it can be even extra tricky because children will regularly go along with the adventure which means a plethora of distractions.
One of the most effective forms of exercise is walking which is also an easy exercise program to start with because you are able to set your own goals and limitations as you get on with your new fitness exploit.
|
- 4). Three Basic Factors To Sexy Abs! By : Gina Marietti
There are three basic factors that will help you lose your belly: strength training (which increases resting metabolic rate), cardiovascular exercise (which burns calories), and proper nutrition. Without all three, you can do crunches all day and never get the flat tummy you desire.
Let’s start with cardio. You need to do a cardio exercise you enjoy, 30-45 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week.
|
- 5). Benefits Of Online Exercise Programs By : Gina Marietti
Online personal fitness training has become an affordable, convenient alternative to face-to-face personal training. The internet offers the ability to receive instruction from a qualified fitness trainer in the privacy of your home or office and even while traveling. The number of certified fitness trainers working with clients online has increased more than 400% in 2004 compared to 2003 and is predicted to double again in 2005/2006.
|
- 6). Can Face Exercises reverse signs of aging? By : I Henman
Every facial expression we make adds to the adverse effect on our Facial appearance. The repetition of smiling, frowning, and other facial expressions can speed up the creation of wrinkles and other aging factors. The good news is that there is a natural method to help combat this aging process. Face Exercises are free alternative to other medical procedures to help strengthen the muscles underneath our skin in our face.
|
- 7). Do You Visualize Whilst You Are Doing Breathing Exercises? By : Barry McDonald
Q. I find breathing exercises very boring is there anything I can do to make less boring?
Have you ever used visualization when you are doing your breathing exercises, a lot of people think that breathing exercises are only a manner of sitting down and concentrating as they inhale exhale, which to the outsider can seem as being very boring and monotonous.
|
- 8). An Effective Exercise Routine for Beginners By : Jim Oneill
Let’s start with this very important rule: NEVER OVERDO THE FIRST FEW SESSIONS. Many beginners to exercising fall for this trap, especially when they do not have qualified trainers with them. They get overly excited and lose patience. They try to produce in two weeks what often takes years to accomplish.
They begin by going all out right from the start doing as much as they can.
|
- 9). My Running fitness programme By : adam parsons
If anyone has decided to embark on a diet and fitness programme, please read my article on my personal experiences in this area and feel free to use this in any other articles.
Modern life results in many factors which can cause depression and anxiety in the normal person, life pressures, work, relationships, image and general well being all come into context.
|
- 10). Exercise Myths By : Karen Sessions
Copyright 2006 Karen Sessions
Everywhere you look you will find exercise information. It can come in fitness magazines, the beauty salon, your co-workers, the Internet, and infomercials.
You will see snappy headlines such as, “Lose 10 Pounds in a Week with No Exercise at All!”, and “Melt Pounds without Dieting.” These marketing ploys don’t end. They will use any tactic to get you to buy their product.
|
|
|
