Looking for some simple work out moves you can do in the comfort of your apartment? Try these fat burning exercises to get your heart rate up without leaving home.
Inverted V Pipe Exercise
If you’re into yoga, you may recognize this move — it looks a lot like downward dog. The “inverted V pipe” provides a great core workout that burns fat while strengthening your stomach muscles. As you’re performing this exercise, don’t be afraid to bend your knees generously.
Here’s how to do it:
Begin in plank position with your elbows bent underneath your shoulders. Your back should be straight, and your feet should be hip-width apart. Lift your hips toward the ceiling while pressing down with your shoulders and arms. Then slowly return to your plank position. This is one set. Try doing three sets of 15.
Jump Rope
Jumping rope is one of the easiest ways to get some cardio. It’s also a lot of fun, which makes it one of our favorite fat burning exercises to do at home (or anywhere you want). Just be mindful of your surroundings!
Glute Bridges
Glute bridges are another one of our favorite fat burning exercises. They strengthen your glutes as well as your thighs, so they’re a good choice if you’re looking to improve your lower body strength. When you’re performing glute bridges, be sure to drive through your heels. This will protect your knees and also help activate your glutes, which may not be activated if you haven’t worked them out in a while.
Here’s how to do a glute bridge correctly:
Begin on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Your arms should be flat by your sides. Begin to lift your hips off of the group by driving through your heels. Keep lifting your hips until you’ve reached the bridge position. Hold for a few seconds. Then slowly return to your start position. That is one set. We recommend completing at least three sets of 15 glute bridges at a time.
Jump Squats
Jump squats provide a complete, total-body fat burning workout without the need for additional equipment. They pack all the muscle-toning benefits of a standard squat with the added benefit of a cardio workout, thanks to the jumping part.
Here’s how to do a jump squat:
Begin standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Next, bend your knees and do a squat as you normally would do. Then jump up while engaging your core. Land on your feet and dip down into another squat. This is one set. Try doing three sets of 10 jump squats at a time.
Elbow-To-Knee Crunches
The tried-and-true crunch is still one of the best fat burning exercises you do can at home. The trick is that you must do them correctly, which can be a problem for some people. Here’s how to do them right:
Start by laying on your back with your hands behind your head. Next, bend your knees. Bring them up towards you so that they create a 90-degree angle, and lift your shoulders off the floor. Now, twist your upper body to the right while simultaneously pulling your right knee in towards your left elbow. Then, do the same thing with your alternate leg and elbow. Repeat as many times as you like.
Mountain Climbers
Remember mountain climbers from gym class? This basic, simple move is a great cardio exercise and total-body workout you can easily do at home.
Start in the plank position. Your back should be flat. Next, pull your right knee as close to your chest as you can. Then do the same thing with your left leg as you place your right leg back down into its original position. Keep alternating between each leg at a fast pace.
Squat Thrusts
Finally, squat thrusts (or burpees) are a difficult exercise that’s well worth the effort. Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Next, bend your knees to get into the squat position and place your hands on your mat. Kick your legs back into a plank position, then jump your legs forward back into a squat. Stand up, then repeat.
