10 Exercises That Burn More Calories Than Running

I love to exercise.

Correction: I like to exercise.

Correct, correction: I like to exercise when the workout routine requires anything but running.

I know, I know. I've heard it all before, "If you run often enough, you'll eventually love it."

Nevertheless, I loathe the exercise that requires I put one foot in front of the other for long periods of time. And no matter how often I do it, I find that no amount of suffering through it makes me enjoy the experience any more.

I get it, some people naturally love running. However, I and many others are just not built for it and all its wonders. Even though we are happy to be left out of the strenuous activities running entails, this hatred does, admittedly, leave us out of the calorie-burning benefits running has to offer. So, what do we do?

Don't sweat it. For those of us that hate running, or like running but want a change, here are some calorie-burning alternatives that don't require you give into the peer pressure of being about that running life. Besides, these exercises burn more calories than running anyway. Check them out:

Kettle bell Swings

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Average Calorie Burn: 20.2 calories per minute

Kettle bell swings help you burn calories and sculpt a lean figure, which is great for shaping the glutes and quads while giving your body an overall workout. No longer do you need to have the age-old debate of cardio v. strength. With kettlebells, you can do both.

According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), kettle bell workouts have grown immensely over the last decade due to the number of calories that can be burned in such a little time. An average person can burn "400 calories during a 20-minute workout," simply by adding a kettle bell to their fitness routine. In terms of burning calories, these results are comparable to running the pace of a six-minute mile, or uphill cross-country skiing at fast pace.

Bonus: Kettle bells are also known to alleviate lower back problems, improve posture, build muscle, and boost your endurance.

Featured image by Getty Images

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Originally published January 25, 2019