The Body Blog: Quick and Efficient Exercises

[Exercise, health and fitness are an important part of every woman’s life. But how do you know if you’re doing it right? And what new findings, tips and advice will help you reach your health fitness goals? Kelly, our fitness guru, will keep you updated every Monday with the latest and most beneficial news and advice for your health and body. She told you why you needed to lift weights last time and today she's gonna help you get fit, no matter how little time you have.]

We are busy girls, no doubt. But being busy is never a good excuse for skipping out on a workout. Not only is it BS (you could spend a little less time shopping online, you know), but it’s just not good for you. And you are gonna feel really crappy later when your body turns to mush and you can’t play Guitar Hero without breaking a sweat.

I agree that it is not always easy to find an hour in the day to get a full workout in, especially with exams comin’ up. That is why you need to work out more efficiently.

There are certain exercises and combinations of exercises that burn calories faster than others. If you only have 30 minutes to work out, walking on a treadmill is probably not the best way to burn off that box of cookies from last night.

So, which exercises are the quickest calorie burners and the fastest routes to a healthy and fit body?

1. Running

2. Rowing

3. Swimming

Not only do these three exercises burn the most calories in 30 minutes (avg. 300 for a 145 pound person), but they also build muscle and tone your entire body. Walking, biking and even using the elliptical trainer will not work your body as hard or as well, because those exercises target your lower body and leave your upper body hanging out and doin’ nothing.

If you don’t even have 30 minutes in your action-packed schedule to get to the gym, try jumping rope. You probably haven’t picked up a jump rope since playing Double Dutch in 2nd grade, but 10 minutes of jumping rope can burn up to 200 calories! Picking up the jump rope for a few 10-minute sessions throughout the day (between classes, right when you wake up, etc…) is a super easy way to burn calories quickly.

It is really easy to find excuses not to work out, but try and squeeze these exercises into your day. You feel better, look better, and give yourself a much needed break from that final paper you need to write for English 125.