10 Exercises that Burn More Calories than Running

There’s no denying that running is good exercise. It is great for your lungs, heart, cholesterol, and immune system, plus it helps relieve stress and anxiety. It can even help you lose weight. Anyone can run, there isn’t any special equipment required, and you can do it anywhere. But running can be hard on the knees and hips and does not work the upper body. For more well-rounded workouts, other exercises might be more effective. An adult weighing 175 pounds burns about 340 calories running a mile at 5 mph; here are ten exercises that burn even more.

Jumping Rope

Jumping rope for ten minutes burns about 125 calories, which is the same as about 30 minutes of jogging. There are a lot of great perks with jumping rope, too. You don’t need a lot of equipment, and you can do it just about anywhere. In addition to improved coordination and potential weight loss, jumping rope is also good for your bones. It builds mineral density and improves overall power.

Elliptical

A 185-pound person burns about 400 calories during a 30-minute elliptical workout. One of the best things about ellipticals is that they are low impact. Because they move along with the natural path of your leg and foot, your knees, hips, and feet aren’t pounding into the unforgiving ground as you run. Using an elliptical is also great for bone health, and it works both the upper and lower body at the same time.

Rowing

Rowing machines might be the most underrated piece of equipment in the gym. You use your full body to row, so this is one of the most efficient exercises out there; when rowing, you are forced to use not only your arms but also your core and legs. Rowing also burns a huge number of calories: about 360 in 30 minutes of vigorous effort.

Rock Climbing

Research suggests rock climbing can burn as many as 900 calories an hour, much more than running. Plus, rock climbing is a great full-body workout that strengthens and tones the shoulders, arms, legs, and core. You don’t have to go out and get expensive climbing gear, either. A lot of gyms feature indoor rock-climbing walls.

Swimming

Swimming is a great cardio exercise with plenty of benefits. It gets your heart going without any stress on your joints, builds muscle, and increases lung capacity. Swimming can help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke and is an excellent option for people with arthritis or injuries who are looking for a safe way to get moving again. A 180-pound adult freestyle swimming for one hour burns 572 when going slow and more than 800 calories when they pick up the pace.

Kickboxing

Kickboxing is an efficient high-energy workout. It burns between 750 and 900 calories an hour and works the entire body. There are plenty of additional benefits to kickboxing, too. Not only does it tone and build muscle, but it also burns fat, teaches self-defense, and is a fun way to de-stress or get rid of anxiety.

Indoor Cycling

Indoor cycling is a little different from outdoor cycling, primarily because there are fewer distractions and no road hazards to worry about, so you can just focus on your workout. Cycling tones the muscles of your legs, glutes, and core without building bulk. It provides excellent cardio with a much lower impact than running, too. A 45-minute cycle class at the gym burns as many as 600 calories.

Battle Ropes

Battle ropes are an efficient cardio exercise that helps build muscle all over the body. This high-energy option can burn up to 500 calories in only 30 minutes. The ropes, which can be set up almost anywhere, burn fat and build muscle at the same time by mixing short bursts of interval training to work your shoulders, arms, and core. The workouts can easily be adjusted to suit your level of fitness.

Boxing

In 45 minutes, boxing can burn about 350 calories. When combined with a speed bag, jump rope, and sparring, it is possible to burn up to 800 calories in an hour. The sport is a cardio and strength exercise that works just about every muscle in your body. Plus, it’s great for coordination and an amazing stress reliever.

Cross County Skiing

Cross country skiing burns more calories than any other exercise on this list. Believe it or not, it is possible to burn more than 1,000 calories in an hour. This amazing cardio exercise works your whole body without any of the impacts of running. Plus, it’s a great way to get outside and get moving in the winter.