“Muscle is the most metabolically active tissue, so the more of it we have, the more effective we are at burning calories all day long.”Īnd while calories are an important part of weight loss, remember that it’s not the be-all end-all. By choosing exercises that ramp up that after-burn effect, “you get more bang for your buck in the long-term,” she explains. The reason weight training has a prolonged calorie-burning effect? When you work at that higher intensity, your body needs more oxygen afterward to recover and repair muscles, Miranda says.

Noam Tamir, CSCS, is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and founder of TS Fitness. Gabbi Berkow, CPT, RD, is a certified personal trainer and registered dietitian. Jennifer Jacobs, CPT, is a certified personal trainer, creator of Beachbody’s Job 1, and founder of the J Method. Meet the experts: Laura Miranda, CSCS, DPT, is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and founder of Pursuit. “But anaerobic workouts (think weights) keep our excess post-exercise oxygen consumption ( EPOC), or post-workout calorie-burn, going from hours to days,” she explains. It’s true that people tend to expend more calories while doing cardio, like running or jumping rope, compared to lifting weights, says physical therapist and fitness coach Laura Miranda, CSCS, DPT.

But, the truth is the number on your watch or machine after a session doesn't always tell the whole story nor does the size of the puddle of sweat on your mat. Some say cardio is the ultimate burner, while others swear by strength training. Yes, some workouts are way better at calorie-torching than others.

If weight loss is your MO, you definitely want to know what exercises burn the most calories. There's a plan to up your cardio endurance, build defined muscles, run a half marathon, and improve your mobility just to name a few. It seems there are endless workout options to reach any and all fitness goals.

Burn the rope series