There are many diet pills which promise reat weight loss results. Some procedures such as coolsculpting offer great fat reduction in lesser time as well, although the price of coolsculpting depends on several factors. Then, there is water aerobics, walking and yoga.
Ever wonder if yoga, water aerobics and walking can actually burn fat? Many people doubt that fat-burning can be a result of walking, yoga and water aerobics. I’m a certified personal trainer.
So let’s start with yoga. Can yoga burn fat? Well, you’re always releasing fat. The real question is: Can yoga contribute significantly to this? You will burn more fat in a yoga class than you will sitting at the computer, especially with more demanding forms of yoga.
But the direct fat-burning effect of yoga is limited. However, yoga can strengthen your lower back and core, and this in term will make you more efficient with traditional gym routines that do expend a lot of fat, like barbell squats, deadlifts and pushups. So don’t blow off yoga yet.
Now what about walking; how much fat can walking burn? Well, quite a lot when you add inclines or hills. Strolling in the park does not define the concept of walking as exercise, any more than bench pressing just the 45 pound Olympic bar defines the concept of bench pressing for exercise.
To burn a lot of fat, walking – like any form of exercise – must be done intensely. You can apply the protocol of high intensity interval training to walking. Here’s an example: Walk (don’t jog) at 4.2 mph on the treadmill, but with the incline set at 15 percent.
Do not cheat by holding on! Just don’t. Keep those hands at your sides and swing the arms, and see if you can sustain this pace and incline for 60 seconds. Thirty seconds will be too difficult for some people. If you’re in poor shape, you won’t last 15 seconds. That’s fine. Go 14 seconds, then, or use a slower speed.
Then set the grade at zero incline and walk 2 mph for two minutes. Then go back up to 15 percent and 4.2 mph (or 3.5 if you’re not in great shape). Go back and forth like this for 30 minutes. This kind of walking will burn a butt-load of fat! This principle can be applied outdoors on hills.
Can water aerobics burn any respectable amount of fat? Water aerobics is a good medium for certain populations, but for fat-burning, it doesn’t cut it. I’m referring to the typical water aerobics group class, rather than doing your own thing in the water with 50 pound dumbbells.
A water aerobics class, given at a rec center or health club, is ideal for very poorly conditioned people, the elderly, people rehabbing from injuries, and people with mobility challenges. However, water aerobics also attracts more able-bodied folks. It’s fun and refreshing, and some people just love being in water.
But again, water aerobics ranks low on the fat-melting scale. This isn’t about whether or not water aerobics burns fat. It does. You’re using up fat just sitting there reading this. The question is: Does water aerobics burn substantial amounts of fat? The answer is no. Rigorous lap swimming, on the other hand, does.