Before you go out there and spend a bunch of money on a treadmill or elliptical machine remember that the best exercise for weight loss is not a boring, mindless exercise.

No, the best exercise involves concentration. What I mean by that is, well, ask yourself these questions: Can you do it while watching TV and not miss a word? Could you do it while reading? Is it boring and monotonous? Does it require much effort?

Sadly, many people do exercises that are everything I mentioned above. They get on a treadmill and go at it at a slow to moderate pace for a while while watching TV. Now, there's nothing wrong with having a TV in your workout room, but you should not be fixated on it. Be expected to miss a few scenes here and there.

This is because a real cardio workout requires a degree of concentration. Machines lock you into place so you can take your mind off of the exercise. That's really not what you want. You might still get a workout from it, but it'll be somewhat lackluster.

Now, before we get carried away here, let me say this. If you enjoy your new elliptical machine or treadmill, and you don't like doing much else for cardio, stick with it. It's better to stick with an exercise that you will actually do rather than pick one that is very effective that you will never feel like doing. But, then again, if you feel like doing something more effective, read on.

Aside from the fact that decent treadmills and elliptical machines are very expensive, they are not as effective as free (free as in not on a machine) exercises like actual jogging or aerobic weight exercises. Machines just don't burn as many calories and being locked in place can make the exercise a bit unnatural.

We want exercises that serve two purposes. One, they require a bit of concentration thereby creating a mind/body connection, and two, they are variable intensity exercises (not steady and consistent).

So, here are some exercises you can choose from that are pretty effective for weight loss:

Outdoor sprints: best done on a track, but can be done anywhere that's comfortable. Sprint, then rest. Don't rest too much in between sprints. Keep the workout fairly short. No more than 15 to 20 minutes at the most. Sprints are better than long marathon runs for burning fat. How far you sprint at a time is up to you. Sprint on a hill for more resistance.

Jump rope: it's tricky to do, but effective when you get good at it. Try to mix it up with speed jumping, crossover, or double jumps if you can get good enough at it.

Kettlebell workouts: kettlebell swings and snatches are a good workout. Cleans and presses as well. High reps for an areobic workout. Also try moderate reps with little rest breaks. Dumbbells can work too. Kettlebells are harder and give a better workout.

Bodyweight exercises: these include mountain climbers, bodyweight squats, push-ups, jumping drills, lunges, bear crawls, plank holds and more. Feel free to combine them as well one after the other.

Shadow boxing: best done at home if you are shy. Vary the punches and kicks with different moves.

Swimming sprints: just like regular sprints. Go a certain distance, say one lap, then rest for 15-20 seconds before doing another. Swim fast for a short distance. Again, this isn't a marathon.

Heavy bag punching/kicking workouts: use a regular bag, speed bar, or rebounding bag. Mix it up if you get bored.

I usually keep my workouts under 15-20 minutes. If you need more in depth information or tips, you could try the Truth About Abs program. That's where most of these come from.

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