The truth is that there is no one best cardio exercise to burn calories. The secret lies in consistency and intensity.

Some people enjoy running, some prefer biking, and others like doing cardio on equipment such as a treadmill, eliptical machine, or stationary bike.

These are all fine choices to burn calories, as long as you do them CONSISTENTLY and at the right pace. There is no significant difference in calories burned between these exercises as long as you perform them all at the same intensity.

For example, let’s say you perform a 20-minute cardio session in which you jog part of the time, run part of the time, and sprint part of the time. This session has left you out of breath, sweating, and gasping for air….

…Now let’s say for your next session you ride a stationary bike for 20 minutes. When you’re done, you feel like you haven’t even exercised. Does this make the stationary bike less effective than running? NO! It just means that you have to pedal faster and harder next time to achieve the same results that you did with running.

If you are a beginner to cardiovascular exercise, start off slow. Walking or briskly jogging is a good way to condition yourself to move on to running and/or sprinting. Though walking isn’t the best cardio exercise to burn calories, it is VERY important that you begin slowly to avoid injury or health mishaps.

If you are already conditioned to perform cardio, try to push yourself to make progress each session. Whether it be an extra minute or a higher notch on the intensity of the machine, try to progress from your last session. Forget about that the best cardio exercise to burn calories is, and focus on making progress and pushing your limits with any cardio exercise.

It is a myth that low-intensity cardio will burn more fat than high intensity cardio will. Low intensity cardio burns a greater percentage of calories from fat, but the total amount of calories burned during low intensity cardio is not enough to make a significant difference on fat loss.

It’s not rocket science: The harder you exercise, the more calories you will burn!

So pick an exercise you enjoy, perform it consistently and as intensely as your health permits, and try to make progress from session to session.

Remember: While some cardio exercises may be slightly more effective than others, there is no single best cardio exercise to burn calories. Start slowly, make progress, push your limits, and be consistent!