6 ways to....Burn more calories when you workout

Welcome to my first ever markefitness blog!

Seeing as it's January and most people are looking to lose weight, exercise more and start eating healthy, I thought what a great blog to get 2011 underway.

6 ways to Burn more calories when you workout.......

1. GET HEAVY: The heavier the weights you lift, the more muscle fibres you'll recruit and the more calories you'll burn. Also, try running/walking with a weighted rucksack (no more than 5kgs so as not to change your running gait)

2. KEEP MOVING: Don't sit there and rest between sets, keep moving! Try 15-20 lunges, squats, press-ups and star-jumps one straight after the other in a circuit. Repeat 3 more times.

3. MULTITASK: Go for exercises that work the upper and lower body together. Try swimming or rowing. Also try and do squats with an overhead press or lunges with a bicep curl. This way the heart rate will stay raised and therefore burn more calories.

4. SLOW DOWN: Try doing your toning and strenghthening exercises slower! Lower for 4 seconds and raise for 4 seconds. The muscle will be under tension for longer, will be working harder and therefore using more energy (calories)

5. MIX IT UP: Try interval training: mixing bouts of high intensity with medium and lower intensity work. This can be done whilst running, cycling, swimming, weight training. You'll work at a higher intensity overall and burn more calories than if you were to exercise continuously at the same pace.

6. ROCK ON: Research has shown that we subconsciously match our pace to the speed of the music we work out to. Put together a playlist of up-tempo dance or rock tunes to keep your work rate high throughout your session.

I hope these have been useful?

If you have any questions on any of these points or any other fitness related questions, please feel free to email me on tony@markefitness.co.uk

Yours in health

Tony