What is just as effective as jogging?

T

toastythemosty

Cathlete
I use to jog, but it puts too much stress on my knees and caused pain for me when I would walk down steps. I get envious when I see others jog as I want to participate as it really is quite effective for slimming down the legs and you can just feel the fat melting off like butter, but is there something else besides aerobics that is just as good as jogging and kinder to the knees?
 
I hate to say this, but I don't think anything is (if you're referring to weight loss anyway). I don't run much but I know when I do I can burn off pounds reeeeaaaalllly fast.

Just my opinion--maybe someone else could be more helpful. Sorry! :)
 
I'd recommend biking. Biking gives you great legs but is kind on the joints. When biking outside the trick is to never stop pedalling. It's easy to coast with a bike. To get a great workout I recommend getting a small bike computer that tells you your rpm. A target rpm of 80 to 100 really gives you a great cardio burn. The computer is also handy because it shows how far you've gone. My normal distance is 20 miles. The summer I biked 14 miles per day, five days a week..there was no fat on my butt at all!
In the winter I use a reclining bike, make sure the resistance is cranked up and bike while watching a movie. The time flies and you get intensity blasts during every action scene. Whenever the music speeds up I find myself biking faster and faster. The sweat flies during car chases and suspense scenes.

If you get into biking, you should check for biking clubs in your area. There are some amazing areas to go biking. If you have no fear you can also try mountain biking. My friend and I did some amazing trails last fall. I wasn't going fast but I was definitely working hard due to the extreme balance challenge.
 
Spinning, cross-country skiing, intervals in the pool? Not sure about that last one.

Running really is the best. But if you walk very fast, especially with hills, it is pretty good too.
 
Have you thought about jump rope? It is less stessful, you can actually burn more calories than running. if you use a good mat underneath, you should be fine.

Check out online for how to get started.

Danna
 
I have been a runner for about 27 years. During anytime I was injured and had to quit running, I found using my Nordic Track (cross country skiing) would get my Heart Rate about as high as when I ran, with no impact. You can also do interval workouts that will for sure burn the fat for example: On a Nordic, warm up about 5 minutes, do a 90 second interval (fast as you can) then slow down for 3 minutes and let your HR get back to where it should be. Repeat that 3 or 4 times!! But not more than twice a week. I know many people feel the same about the Elliptical machines, so maybe one of them will post....:)...Carole
 
OK, I'm new here (lurking for ages, but this topic prompted me to register).

You might try powerwalking/racewalking as an alternative. No guarantees--everyone's body is different. Worked for me, though: running ripped up my knees, but I have "racewalked" for 9 years now without knee problems (quotes there because I don't quite have strict racewalking form). Never got the results from jogging that I did from racewalking, though. I use a treadmill and *very* gradually built up to a 5 mph pace.

www.racewalk.com has lots of tips/techniques/shoe information, but don't let all the technical info put you off.
 
I don't know why people look at running/jogging like they are the supreme weight loss mechanism exercise wise. I don't really ever notice being slimmer when I am running as opposed to when I am simply doing alot of Cathe interval workouts. Kickboxing does just as much for me, if not more. Personally, if I had to choose one exercise I could do for the rest of my life other than weight training, I would choose kickboxing. It just tones up everything.....

That is my two cents anyways...
 
You can do anything with "running" intensity. Just check your heartrate. I can run from 112 to 184 heartrate -- depending on the pace and surface. I can also row, nordictrack, elliptical run, stairmaster and bike at that heartrate. Maybe you have to work a lot harder on the bike to achieve that high heartrate but it is the effort that you put in that counts and not what you do. Generally it is easier to get your heartrate higher on machines that use a lot of muscle -- like the crosscountry ski machine -- as opposed to a machine that only use one muscle group -- like biking. I used to run log distances for many years but I had to cut back. Now I do many other things instead of running with the same intensity and heartrate.
The good thing with the machines is that you can do cardio and resistance at the same time -- nordictrack cross coutry ski machine is an excellent example -- with running you only do cardio.
Don't be afraid to cut back on running.It is really the effort that you put into your workouts that counts!:) Mari
 
I have to agree that running really burns off the fat. I only run in the spring/summer/fall and when i do, i get alot of complements on my body and legs. I'm 37 almost 38 so my knees do sometimes talk to me..... HOWEVER, i do find that spinning gets my heartrate up and according to my heart rate monitor, burns calories very nicely.
Kickboxing is fun and gets my heartrate up, but i was surprised to find out how much time i spent not in my target heart rate zone (new heart rate monitor here).
MIC really kicks my butt on days i can't run.
 
I don't know exactly what race-walking is, but I usually walk at a speed between 3-4 miles per hour on the treadmill at the gym. I use the incline control to get my heart rate as high as I need it to go.
 
I think what is very important is for you to find something that you like.

Shake things up with new workouts, intensity, interval training and variety.

Everyone's body responds differently to different exercise depending on your metabolism, ratio of fast to slow twitch muscle in your body, bone structure, current level of strength, age, prior injuries, personal experience, nutrition, etc. I'm sure that there are a few other factors that I have missed.

Just remember that above anything else, if you are looking for weight loss, the ultimate exercise is to master good nutrition!

Good luck!

Danna
 
Running does seem to be a great calorie burner, but it's also tough on the joints, the knees especially. I know I can't do it without pain.

Other high-intensity workouts (according to calorie-burn charts I've seen, and according to my own experience with them) are spinning and kickboxing. Jogging/sprinting on a rebounder could also be high iintensity, with less stress to the joints, but I think it would be rather boring.
 
>I don't know exactly what race-walking is, but I usually walk
>at a speed between 3-4 miles per hour on the treadmill at the
>gym. I use the incline control to get my heart rate as high
>as I need it to go.

Generally--at least in the online info I've seen--anything at 4.5 mph or faster (that is, you're walking a mile in no more than 13 minutes) is considered "racewalking" pace. Also, technical definition is that one leg must remain on the ground at all times, which is what separates it from running. I was in shape when I walked at slower speeds, but found that a fast pace (5 mph at least) really burns off fat.
 
Not in your heart rate zone for Kick Punch and Crunch or something else?? I suppose it depends on the workout you select..
 
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