How to lose belly fat: the top calorie-burning exercises
When it comes to fitness goals, losing belly fat is probably one the most popular goals people have when they join the gym. Whilst doing endless crunches may help to make your core stronger, it’s not the most effective way to lose belly fat. A whole-body approach will be more optimal, combined with proper nutrition, along with other elements.
We've combined two high-energy workouts consisting of full body movements to help strengthen and shape your body and help you achieve your fat loss goals. Watch them below and give them a go in the gym!
Also, make sure to check out our top calorie burning exercise list below for some exercise ideas.
Workout One
- Burpee 8-10 reps
- Walkout into a push up 8-10 reps
- Mountain climbers 30 reps (15 per side)
- Bear crawl with resistance band 8-10 reps
Complete each exercise, back-to-back. Complete 3-4 rounds.
Workout Two
- Deadlifts. 5 reps
- Dumbbell thrusters 8-10 reps.
- Kettlebell swings8-12 reps.
- Jumping lunges 6-12 reps each leg.
- Mountain climbers 1-20 reps.
Make sure to warm up and cool down when performing these workouts.
What are some great calorie burning exercises I can try in the gym other than cardio?
We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 exercises personal trainers recommend when it comes to burning fat:
- Barbell or dumbbell thrusters
- Burpees
- Kettlebell swings
- Squats (and its variations – for example, jump squats).
- Deadlifts
- Lunges (and its variations – for example, jumping lunges).
- Pull ups
- Bent over rows
- Press ups
- Mountain climbers
Most of these exercise focus on using multiple muscle groups, which will require more energy and help to build muscle while burning fat at the same time.
Is cardio key to fat loss?
The first type of exercise that many people would immediately think of when it comes to torching calories is cardio. While cardio can burn a considerable number of calories and provides a host of health benefits, it’s not the only way. Running, swimming, boxing etc are great forms of cardio but you don’t have to limit your options to stick to only cardio, particularly if it’s not an activity you enjoy (but if you enjoy it that’s great!). Just know that there are many other exercises you can do to help support your fat loss goals.
Support your fat loss efforts with weight training
Although cardio may appear to burn more calories during your workout, the ‘after burn’ is often a lot higher after a weight training session which can help to improve your body composition.
This is one of the reasons why prioritising weight training for fat loss is just as important. The most muscle you have, the higher your BMR may be – which has an influence on how many calories you naturally burn, event at rest. Plus, not only can weight training help to improve your body composition, but it provides a whole host of benefits, such as increased bone density, improved strength and more, which is why we think it’s worth including in your training routine.
So even if you’re main priority is fat loss, doing a combination of cardio and weight training is recommended.
Don’t forget
When it comes to achieving fat loss, there are many other factors other than exercise that come into play such as your genetics, nutrition, sleep, recovery, and training so the speed at which you lose weight will differ from person to person. Fat loss takes time so try to not get frustrated if you’re not seeing results immediately. Just remember, the main thing in order to elicit fat loss is to create a calorie deficit i.e. to burn more energy out than you consume over a period. Main thing is to set yourself realistic goals, focus on quality over quantity, and staying consistent.
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