Running/jogging is the classic cardio workout, the go-to for most people who want to push their heart and lungs, get fit, and burn a bit of fat in the process. But here’s a harsh truth: it’s not the best cardio workout out there. It’s easy and simple, but not the most effective. If you want to get in a killer cardio workout, here are a few you might want to try instead.

Rowing

If you want one heck of a full body workout, give rowing a try! Rowing is amazing for your cardiovascular system, because it forces your heart and lungs to work double-time to keep up with the effort. It’s a steady-state exercise that engages every muscle in the posterior half of your body, from your shoulders to your upper and lower back to your hamstrings and calves. It’s an amazing workout, and one that will lead to serious fat-burning and muscle-building results!

Jumping Rope

It may not seem like a tough workout at first, but by the time you hit 100 or 200 jumps, you’ll be feeling the burn! Jumping rope is great for your lower and upper body, and it engages your core muscles as you work. You’ll find that it can do wonders to push your cardiovascular system because it takes a lot of energy to push your body off the ground over and over. A few hundred jumps, and you’ll get a far better workout than any jog.

High-Intensity Training

For those who want to kick up their workouts a notch, HIIT is the way to go. The mixture of high-intensity and low-intensity intervals works your muscles but still allows your body to burn fat for energy, leading to far better calorie burning overall and better fat-burning specifically. Plus, you get stronger muscles in half the workout time. What’s not to love?

Plyometric Training

Also known as “jump training”, this type of training focuses on the muscles, joints, and coordination required for faster, agiler jumping. The fact that you’re jumping in each movement means your body is working like a beast, as it takes a lot of energy to generate the explosive force required for a jump. You’ll get one heck of a cardio workout, and you’ll be more agile and nimble in the process.

Spinning

The stationary bike doesn’t have to be the “easy” alternative to running. With a good spinning class, it can be a workout far harder than any run, plus a lot more fun and effective! Spinning pushes your lower and upper body works your core and gets your cardiovascular system firing on all cylinders. It’s a great way to mix things up at the gym.

Stairmaster/Versaclimber

Have you ever climbed 10+ flights of stairs? If so, you know how exhausting it can be. A Stairmaster or Versaclimber simulates that climbing, but all without leaving your gym. You can give your lower body a killer workout (up or down stairs, both engage different muscles) with these awesome machines.

If you’re not a runner, don’t sweat it! Thanks to these cardio workouts, you can get in a great exercise session without worrying about running ever again.

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