What other cardiovascular exercises can I do that don't involve running?

Question

I am 60 pounds overweight and would like to start burning some of that fat. My knees and ankles are in pretty bad shape so running is very difficult and often times painfull. I can do different jumping excersises, those don't seem to bother my joints.

Any suggestions? Any other exercises that are good for losing weight (especially in the belly area). I have a pretty good gut and I am starting to grow man boobs. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Swimming is great cardio. Jump rope is one of the best exercises there are. Stair stepper. Ski machine. Boxing. Martial arts. Biking. Even a strenuous walk. Go through a workout video with their cardio sections. Walking is great for you--try to do 2 miles a day.

Actually running is NOT that good of a cardio workout due to the fact that it is really hard on overweight people's joints. All you are trying to do is get your heartrate up. Nearly everything that is a workout gets that heartrate up.

The belly is one of the easiest areas for men to lose weight in. Basically what you need to do is burn more calories than you are taking in. An hour of workout at least each day. For the amount of fat you are trying to lose, i really suggest you join a gym and get a trainer to help you. it is very hard for you to tell when you are pushed to the max b/c its been a long time since your muscles were pushed to the max.

A great routine for you would be 30 min of cardio a day at a Target Heart Rate which your trainer can tell you which it is for each exercise (alternate if something bores you and you don't want to do it more than once a week--do something different each day of the week). After that, begin a workout routine. Alternate arms and legs so that each part has a bit of a rest.

One of the best exercises is actually pushups. That is one of the entire body best exercises. Hold the up position for 10 seconds between each pushup.

Jumping roping is another one of the best exercises. They are both simple and easy to do at home. But for losing 20 lbs safely, you need to consult with a trainer as well as checking out a low-fat cookbook. B/c what you need is a lifestyle change, not just a workout routine.