cardio hacks to burn more calories

6 Cardio Hacks To Burn More Calories

As we all know, one of the main reasons behind doing cardio is its ability to efficiently increase energy expenditure, which burns calories, resulting in fat loss. But cardio doesn’t have to be boring or be used as a primary tool for weight loss. It can also be fun, sustainable, and multi-functional training. Let’s check out our top cardio hacks to burn more calories.

Cardio Optimization

Optimization is about tweaking different parameters of one’s training, so we can get to the targeted results faster. If our goal is to lose weight, aside from the nutritional changes we ought to make, here are some quick ways to easily optimize our cardio, to burn more fat.

From cardio timing, frequency and intensity, up to pre or post-cardio supplements, cardio in a fasted state (on an empty stomach), and aerobic training structure, we give out many tips and hacks. Before jumping into your cardio session, you should be aware that no cardio hacks, tricks, tools, and supplements will cause weight loss if you’re not in a caloric deficit.

The Top 6 Cardio Hacks For Fat-Loss

Like aerobic exercise, cardio is pretty efficient in burning calories. Generally, we should aim at a rhythmic activity that we can repetitively do for a certain duration of time.

The easiest types of cardio to perform (coordination-wise) are running, swimming, cycling, elliptical, stair climbing, and hiking. However, with the proper control of movement, body awareness, and agility, exercises such as skipping rope, kickboxing, Nordic skiing, and skating can make a hell of a cardio workout too.

It is worth noting that cardio comes with many other physiological benefits on the body, and calorie burning isn’t everything cardio has to offer.

1. Do Cardio After Strength Training

If you aren’t a “cardio-only” type of person, you’re probably combining both strength training and cardio workout. But the order in which you do these two seems to matter.

If your main goal is to build strength, especially for the lower body, weights should come first. The reason behind this is simple. HIIT cardio will reduce neuromuscular activation and waste the fuel (glycogen, ATP, creatine) of your muscles, leaving your muscles dry for weight training.

It turns out that submaximal activity (cardio) that follows after resistance training can increase fat oxidation, which stimulates the “fat-burning” effect more effectively, according to a 2007 study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. (1)

  • Weight training prior to long endurance training for aerobic performance may reduce performance (force development, maximal voluntary contraction). (2)
  • Putting your cardio second improves its ability to speed up recovery. Although it might seem counterintuitive, a short 10-30 min cardio session after strength training may be effective in reducing lactate in the muscle, due to improved circulation.
key point

Submaximal cardio after strength training enhances weight loss and fat loss, reduces lactate, improves regeneration, and has a better “fat-burning” effect compared to cardio prior to strength training.

2. Morning Cardio Beats Evening Cardio

Our bodies biologically function in rhythms. One of the main is diurnal rhythm, synchronizing the day and night cycle. This is quite important, as our body temperature, hormone levels, and many other physiological factors change throughout the day. So, when are our bodies at their peak performance level?

  • For aerobic performance, research in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research shows it may not matter that much. But when training for mobility, flexibility, strength, or power, our bodies can profit more from working out in the afternoon. (3) Part of this is physiology – we’re at a higher temperature, better hormonal levels, and neural activation ability.

Although this is very individual and everyone should adapt it to their lifestyle, morning cardio is far more likely to happen, and be sustained. The reason for this lies in our discipline, motivation, and productivity, all of which are greater in the morning.

  • Research in Sleep Medicine shows that evening cardio didn’t disturb sleep, judging by self-reported measures. It was also shown that vigorous activities in the morning were beneficial in terms of good sleep quality and waking up refreshed. (4)

So by far, morning cardio wins. Another research also states that morning workouts are better for overall weight loss. In obese and overweight individuals who were physically inactive, those that had early workouts had significantly greater weight loss results. This again shows that if your main goal is weight loss, morning cardio might be the king. (5)

key point

Partially due to higher productivity and motivation, morning cardio is more sustainable and might be better for weight loss, without disturbing sleep.

3. HIIT Beats Long Endurance Cardio

When it comes to fat loss, the most important question is whether long-endurance activities are better than high-intensity interval training. We all know that the total calorie expenditure during a workout, will be in favor of the longer sustained endurance work, but what about the HIIT’s afterburn effect? How do they compare?

Research shows that besides its calorie-burning effect, HIIT can also improve many health markers like VO2max, and insulin sensitivity, reduce body fat and improve overall fitness level.(6)

HIIT Routine is usually a circuit session, made up of different full-body exercises, done at vigorous, high intensity for a short period of time. The intensity should reach near maximal effort, around 80-90% of our maximum. In between each exercise, there is a short rest (20 sec. – 2 min.).

  • HIIT may also be more efficient than long-steady cardio, as it improves both anaerobic and aerobic energy capacity, compared to aerobic training at moderate intensities which improved only aerobic power. (7)
  • High-intensity exercise can stimulate fat loss, in both normal and overweight individuals. The effect was significant in subcutaneous and abdominal fat, meaning belly-fat reduction is possible. (8)

The main reason behind HIIT’s ability to affect fat loss so fast is “the afterburn effect”. Interval training at high intensities is known to stimulate extra energy expenditure (aka burn more calories) hours after the workout has finished. That being said, walking is still the most practical tool for healthy weight management, so get your steps in!

key point

HIIT or high-interval intensity training has proven more efficient for fat loss in terms of time spent, compared to long-and-steady cardio.

4. Fasted Cardio | On An Empty Stomach

The idea is that by training on an empty stomach, you can lose fat faster because you have less glucose for energy. When the body runs out of glucose, fats are the next fuel source. Also, fasted workouts might increase human growth hormone and adrenaline more, which might result in faster fat loss.

Increased fat oxidation or lipolysis is the primary reason for fat loss. This is how fasting can reduce body weight and fat oxidation, by limiting the sugar-eating window. To conclude, fasted cardio on an empty stomach can be efficient if we train at low-moderate intensity, for a longer duration.

Research is mixed on this topic. A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that both fasted and non-fasted individuals who performed aerobic exercise lost a significant amount of fat mass and weight, with no differences between groups. (10)

Since our main goal is losing weight, fasting can be of great use. It improves other measures like metabolic factors, glucose variability, and insulin response, all of which lead to a better ability to burn fat and create energy.

  • From another perspective, intermittent fasting on its own has the potential to speed up weight loss. It allows the body to use ketones (fats) for fuel, rather than just glucose. (11)
  • Fasting can be effective in terms of fat loss and weight loss – but professional athletes or trained individuals seem not to benefit that much. The reason lies in hormonal responses, physiological changes, and metabolism. (12)

However, if we pick high-intensity interval training it’s a different story. Especially for athletes, fasted HIIT might cause diminishing returns. HIIT workouts require anaerobic system work, so the fasted state can impair exercise performance and regeneration here.

key point

Either choose a low-moderate activity (steady-cardio) for a longer duration, in a fasted state or choose a HIIT or high-interval intensity training, in a non-fasted state.

5. Do Something Fun

Not much research is needed in this section. In my personal experience, when you do something fun it is a lot more sustainable than doing “pure cardio” with the main goal of losing weight.

It is easier to start doing what’s fun to you, and a lot easier to sustain. The false perception of cardio as a calorie-burning tool is detrimental in the long run.

Although this is highly individual, I’d encourage you to look up different sports or types of cardio. Some of the most fun types include: boxing, skipping rope, swimming, and skating while many sports like volleyball, football, basketball, and tennis are very effective in terms of weight loss too.

Engaging in sports activities with other people (being social) is more likely to be sustained, as it keeps you accountable, and social, it is very fun and slightly competitive. You feel alive, you’re always on the edge, trying to help the team out, to throw that ball or jump higher, for the sake of the game, and not just to burn calories.

Whether you choose to run a few laps after the gym, engage in a basketball pickup game, play tennis with your friend or go for one on one football dribbles, pick the type that’s most suitable for you. For the more individually oriented ones, I find boxing and skipping rope to do the trick.

key point

Having fun is the ultimate tool for cardio sustainability, hence why boxing, skipping, and team sports might be the best option, except for individuals oriented in endurance sports.

6. Green Tea + L-Carnitine Supplementation

There’s a broad range of popular weight-loss supplements. Some increase body temperature, some speed up metabolism, others increase energy expenditure, etc. But which one really works? The thing is, although herbs, spices, and caffeine can all help, if you’re not in a caloric deficit at the end of the day, weight loss won’t happen. That being said, some nutrients can help you get in a deficit faster by increasing fat oxidation.

  • Caffeine & CLA
  • L-Carnitine

Research continually shows that caffeine in green tea can increase fat oxidation. This results in fat loss, but green tea has also many other health benefits related to weight loss. It turns out it suppresses the synthesis of fats (lipids) and increases thermogenesis, thus resulting in increased energy expenditure (calorie-burning). (13)

Another very popular and marketed supplement is CLA. Although the data on its effects on body composition and fat mass reduction isn’t that strong, CLA that comes from foods might be an effective tool to reduce factors related to obesity. (14) However, science isn’t impressed with its effects on weight loss, aside from its anti-obesity properties.

Another popular fat-burner that might be used in conjunction with green tea, is L-carnitine. An amino acid that transports fats to the mitochondria, for conversion to energy. This decreases the amount of fat stored and it helps reduce visceral or belly fat while providing you with more energy.  

A systematic review and meta-analysis published on Pubmed have shown the positive effects of L-carnitine. Supplementing with L-carnitine has proven effective for reducing body weight, body mass index, and fat mass, which is probably the dream combo of anyone trying to lose weight. (15) It was more effective in individuals who are overweight or obese.

key point

Two supplements that may spice up and speed up your weight loss journey are L-carnitine and Green Tea. Although a simple combination, it is the crucial amino acid involved in fat metabolism, combined with caffeine that can increase fat oxidation.

Research Limitations

*Studies have some limitations, important to evaluate the validity of their results. Here’s a highlight of some and NOT ALL studies (and limitation), shown in this article, for context.

  • Lack of randomization and small sample size *(n)10, (n)20.

  • In need of further research specifically suited for endurance athletes *results of untrained males can differ in trained individuals.
  • Short duration of study *6 weeks, 4 weeks.
  • Aged data or data older than 10 years *2011, 2007, 2005, 1996.
  • Further research needed to clarify guidelines and safety of High Intensity Intermittent Exercise Protocol for different types of patients.
  • Subjective values due to use of self-reported questionnaires *might reduce data validity.
  • Self-reported food intake can vary by 18%.
  • Results may be influenced by hormone fluctuations in women who had menstrual cycles.
  • Weak control of external factors *diet, sleep, extra activity, regeneration, protein intake etc.
  • Studies of CLA on animals may not be sufficient to draw strong conclusions of CLA’s effects in humans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best types of cardio exercises?

Different types of activities which are rhythmic and cyclic, that can be done at a specific tempo/intensity. The best types of cardio include: boxing, swimming, skipping rope, sprinting, hiking, running, cycling, elliptical training etc.

How long should a cardio workout last?

It heavily depends on the intensity of the activity. Generally, a long steady cardio session would last around 60-120 minutes, done at fairly low intensities, including exercise such as jogging, swimming, cycling or hiking. For more intense activities such as boxing, sprinting, jumping rope, running uphill etc., aiming at 10-20 minutes of total activity can be enough for a good sweaty session.

What are the most common benefits of cardio?

Depending on the type of cardio, its intensity and duration, cardio can be beneficial for: improving circulation, fat-loss and weight management, blood sugar control, energy boost, mood improvement, cholesterol-lowering and stamina.

What warm-up exercise should I do before running?

Exercises that can raise your temperature like light running, an exercise that enhances your ankle stability and mobility, like ankle circles or toes-walk, plus a couple of quads stretches, lunges, and hip rotations. Going slowly into your running session can reduce the amount of lactate build-up, making it easier for you to run next time and regenerate faster.

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