The holiday season has ended, and you are probably bringing a few binge fest regrets with you in 2016. Running a few miles may burn those calories, but since it’s a new year, you may want to enhance your fitness regime to achieve better results faster.
Running is one of the most loved and least expensive exercises to burn fat and to get fit, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Some people can run for several kilometers non-stop and still have fun, yet others feel like they are just dragging themselves to the finish line.
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t enjoy running because there are plenty of alternative exercises that you can try out. Here are five of them:
1. Combat Sports
Combat sports such as boxing, kick boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA (mixed martial arts) are increasingly becoming the trend in the world of fitness. Apart from the challenge and thrill, combat sports improve your reflexes and develop your emotional intelligence.
2. CrossFit
CrossFit programs mainly consist of aerobic exercises, calisthenics and Olympic weightlifting. Workouts included in the regime include pull-ups, push-ups, air squats, dead lifts, overhead presses, and kettle bell swings. If you don’t like going to the gym, you can implement your own CrossFit workout at home with sit-ups, back squats, lunges, burpees, and wall balls.
3. High Intensity Interval Training
Short, intense workouts are proven to improve athletic condition and capacity and glucose metabolism. It is also an effective regimen for burning fat and improving bone and muscle mass. Interval training requires a high level of motivation. Science-based interval regimes include Tabata, Gibala, and Timmons, are known to enhance cardiovascular fitness.
4. Aerobic Exercises
Running is not the only aerobic exercise that you can do on a daily basis. You can skip the elevator and climb the stairs, for example. To add variety to your fitness regime and lifestyle, you may want to consider biking and swimming. Just like running, they are fun and effective fat burning exercises that also allow you to enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with the people you love. If you want to step up the challenge, you can go rock climbing to ramp up your adrenaline.
5. Dancing
Don’t feel like hitting the gym today? Go hit the club instead and dance the night away. Dancing can burn calories, increase aerobic fitness, and improve your muscle tone and strength. It can also improve the condition of your heart and lungs. Just stay away from alcohol and cigarettes, of course. Zumba is also a popular exercise regime for those who love social dancing. If you’re not confident with your moves, you have Taylor Swift to cheer for you.
There are plenty of other fitness regimes out there that are effective for faster fat burning and muscle toning. You can always explore other options until you find the best fitness regime that you’re more comfortable with. What matters is that you stay on track and keep your eyes on the goal.