Every year many people sign up for a gym membership to get closer to their fitness goals. However that doesn’t mean you should hop on the bandwagon and sign up for a gym membership as well.

In fact, it has been reported that many people waste hundreds a year on unused gym membership. According to research by online accountants Crunch.co.uk, the British are waste£37 million a year on gym memberships, exercise and slimming classes they never attend.

On one hand, some people prefer using the old fashioned way of staying fit and healthy such as involving in physical outdoor activities. Reason being, the gym scene can be intimidating sometimes especially when you are a health-club newbie.

You do not have to spend hours in the gym as some exercises are way more effective than gym equipments.

Here are 7 calorie-busting cardio workouts which produce better results compared to gym equipments.

Running 

Image: womansday.com
Image: womansday.com

If you can run outside, by all means get out there. Running in nature has pros that go above and beyond the benefits you gain by exercising indoors. Apart from that, due to wind resistance you wil get a better workout running outdoor than running on a treadmill.

Scuba Diving

Image: aussiediversphuket.com
Image: aussiediversphuket.com

Scuba diving is often viewed as a hobby or leisure activity rather a fat-burner workout, but it does help burning massive amount of calories while toning your body. While you are under the water, you are kicking your fins to push yourself forward, which makes you do some cardio.

Kayaking

Image: wildjunketmagazine.com
Image: wildjunketmagazine.com

Not only kayaking is an awesome sport for connecting with nature, it is also great for your core and your arms, as well as giving you that upper-body exercise that you don’t usually get in the traditional cardio workouts.

Mountain Biking

Image: gr8lakescamper.blogspot.com
Image: gr8lakescamper.blogspot.com

Cycling seems easy once you learn how, however mountain biking is a different case, and it is far more tougher than it appears. Nonetheless, mountain biking is one of the greatest fat-burning calories as you have more weight to pull up a hill while you are biking.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why You Should Always Warm up before Working Out

Swimming

Image: foreo.com
Image: foreo.com

Swimming is a popular cardio option for exercise because it burns calories and tone up your body by working on your upper and lower extremities. Besides swimming is low impact on your joints and it has shown to reduce blood pressure as well as increasing your overall energy levels. So what are you waiting for? Dive into the pool for the ultimate calorie burn.

Skipping

Image: onnit.com
Image: onnit.com

Jumping rope has many benefits, including giving you a great a stellar calorie burn as well as strengthening your legs, glutes, shoulders, and arms. Many celebrities swear by jump rope exercises such as Adriana Lima, Kate Hudson, Katy Perry and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Hiking

Image: healthworks.my
Image: healthworks.my

Hiking is an excellent outdoor workout for burning calories and allows you to enjoy fresh air and beauty of nature. Besides often times you can even forget totally that you are technically working out.

Also Read: 5 Smart and Simple Ways to Get Back on Your Workout Game

– Cover Image: starwellness.sg