If you don’t sweat during a workout, can you really tell yourself you’re pushing hard enough? While sweat is the body’s way of regulating your temperature, it also releases toxins and enables your body to exert itself to benefit from muscular strength, better blood circulation, and better lung function. What’s more, if you choose a high-intensity exercise session over a moderate one, your body will look and feel better for it. Here are five ways you can work up a sweat for the betterment of your body.
1. High-Intensity Interval Training
If you’re looking for maximum sweat output in the shortest possible timeframe, it’s time to add high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, to your workout. High-intensity interval training is when your workout is fast-paced and intense for a short period of time, such as between one and three minutes, before taking a quick breather and getting back into it again. Typically, you carry out different cardio and strength training. Within just a few minutes, sweat will be pouring off you.
2. Spinning
Spin classes are not only a fun, social gym class, but they are designed to make you sweat in the process. Using a mixture of body heat, resistance, and springs, you have to spin on a spin bike for as long as possible at a fast rate. Spinning is a popular form of exercise due to its aerobic benefits and the ability it has to heighten your heart rate. It’s also a favorite for those who require a low-impact workout with minimal pressure on joints.
3. Sprints
Instead of jogging around your local park, why not sprint to that lamp post, then take a breather, then race to that parked car or up those stairs? Sprints can even take place in the swimming pool when you’re doing laps. By adding a quicker pace to your standard exercise, you’re able to increase your oxygen consumption through your body, sweat more, and benefit from a more efficient workout session.
4. Kickboxing
If you want something a little more fun than just sprinting or spinning, consider kickboxing. Kickboxing is fun, social, and even allows you to get your aggression out as well. What’s more, it improves your balance, coordination, makes you sweat, and can help you to burn up to 500 calories.
5. Boot Camp
Boot camp isn’t for everyone, but for those who can stick it out, you’re bound to see results. Typically, it involves one trainer and a group of people. The goal is to burn as many calories as possible within a 45 minute to one-hour session. These boot camp sessions promote strength, endurance, and weight loss, and they definitely make you sweat. Depending on the trainer, you may find yourself pushed beyond what you ever thought was possible. In fact, if you ever thought about a career in the military, boot camp is an excellent first step.
Working up a sweat is a sure sign you’ve had a proper, beneficial workout. If you’re ready to push yourself, get those pounds melted off, and sign up for something a little social as well, consider any of these five options above.
