Losing weight can be tough.
We know what we need to do - eat healthily and exercise… but not all ‘health’ foods are created equal. And the same goes for exercise! With so many exercises to choose from, it’s important to pick the right ones for your goals.
So if your goal is to lose weight and burn fat fast?
Here are FIVE exercises you should be doing regularly. These exercises are ALL great slimming down, but some are better than others - these are in order, starting with the best…
#1 High-Intensity Interval Training
Also called HIIT training, this style of training is THE best exercises for fat loss.
Why?
It maximizes the amount of oxygen your body consumes. This keeps your body burning calories once your workout is over…and the more intense the exercise, the more calories you burn post-workout.
All you need is 2-3 HIIT workouts a week to start shaving weight like magic!
#2 Resistance Training
This sounds counterintuitive…Resistance training… as in lifting weights? Won’t that build muscle and make me weigh more than before?
But, the answer is YES - resistance training does build muscle… and with the muscle being built, the more you'll burn in fat. And by burning the fat and building the muscle, you will boost your ‘basal metabolic rate’ to start burning more calories when you're at rest.
Start with 2-4 sessions a week.
#3 Moderate Cardio
Interestingly, moderate cardio burns more fat than HIIT.
This is because HIIT burns carbs, while ‘less intense’ cardio like walking, swimming, and jogging targets your fat stores.
Moderate cardio is also less stressful on your body. This is good for many reasons, the main one being you can do these cardio sessions every day without overdoing it!
These easier cardio sessions are also less intimidating - perfect for getting started.
Try 3-5 sessions per week of walking, jogging, easy cycling, swimming, and the elliptical. Try to keep a variety for ultimate fat-burning results.
#4 Yoga/Pilates
Yes, yoga and pilates are good for fat loss.
And these exercises are great for another reason - stress release. Stress, both physical and mental, can block us from regular exercise and staying fit…
So yoga and pilates are perfect fat-burning activities. Try to add a session once per week.
Do you enjoy yoga and/or pilates? Then do more - there’s no limit to how often you should be doing these exercises. It’s entirely up to you.
#5 General Activity
These workouts above are great for weight loss…
However, it’s important to remember that any physical activity burns calories. This means you don’t have to hit the gym every day to burn fat - you can slim down by simply staying active during the day.
This can mean simple lifestyle changes, like going for a walk every few hours or taking the stairs over the elevator. These easy choices accumulate over the long term for a slimmer and healthier body!
All FIVE of these exercises are incredible for losing weight.
Implement one, some, or all of them into your schedule for variety. And don’t be afraid to identify your favorite and stick with only that…
Because remember, what matters most is consistency!