Exercise is absolutely essential for a healthy lifestyle. We absolutely need to get our bodies moving if we want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
That said, some exercises, like running and heavy weightlifting, can be tough on our muscles and joints. For some, low-impact exercises are the ideal choice. Here are four of the best ones you can do:
Walking
We’ve talked about the benefits of walking at lengths before. It is the ultimate exercise for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes.
Walking is much easier on your joints than running. It has been shown to decrease your risk of diseases, increase your life expectancy, and help you lose weight, among other things.
Depending on your weight, and the speed and terrain you walk, one hour at a decent pace can burn up to almost 500 calories. It’s also a great way to explore the area around you!
Elliptical
The elliptical is another great low-impact cardio alternative. It’s a great way to increase your cardiovascular capacity on off-days.
Unlike a lot of other cardio, an elliptical with handles can actually work both your upper and lower body at the same time. It’s a great way to strengthen your legs and work on your muscular endurance.
30 minutes of intense elliptical exercise can burn 400 calories for a 185-pound person. This makes the elliptical a great way to lose weight as well.
Biking
Biking is an awesome low-impact exercise – and a great form of healthy transportation! Biking can get you a lot farther than walking, so you get to explore way more.
Both regular biking and stationary biking are excellent ways to strengthen your legs and core. It’s also a great way to improve your cardiovascular endurance.
Like walking, how many calories you burn while biking depends largely on who you are and where you bike. Outdoor biking, in general, burns more calories than stationary biking. Just bring your helmet!
Swimming
Swimming is one of the best full body movements you can do. The water takes a ton of pressure off of your joints and muscle without taking away the challenge.
Lap swimming strengthens your entire body. Done correctly, your arms, legs, core, chest, shoulders, and back will all feel the burn. They don’t call it a ‘swimmer’s body’ for nothing.
This aquatic exercise will burn a ton of calories, which makes swimming an ideal choice for people trying to lose weight without doing a ton of high-impact exercises.
