If you want to exercise to lose weight, it’s best that you learn some unvarnished facts about it. The first is that it takes a lot of exercise to lose weight.
Now, this may not be what you like to hear. Maybe all the marketing and media hype about the latest weight loss miracle cure has conditioned you to believe that fitness and a flat tummy can happen like magic overnight. Well, wake up to reality.
As long as you stay rooted in a logical and practical approach to lose weight, you will succeed at it. The best exercise to lose weight is the one which can produce repeatable results for everyone who does it regularly. We’ll talk about some of the best methods which are also fun and enjoyable.
1. Jogging
Your entire body exercises when you go jogging. It is cheap (almost free, all you need is a pair of shoes), universal and convenient. You don’t have to go to a gym or be in a specific location to be able to jog. Just step out of the door and get going.
Even if you jog a few kilometers daily, you will notice a boost in your metabolic rate, better fitness and a loss of weight. Jogging burns off calories better than most other forms of aerobic exercise. Unless you have serious medical conditions like heart disease or joint problems, you can probably jog at a modest pace for around half an hour or longer.
The only problem with jogging is the strain it places on your knees. By building up your intensity gradually, you can make steady progress and jog longer distances. Do not try to simultaneously increase both your distance and speed. Given a choice, it is better to jog longer distances than to run faster.
2. Walking
Some people prefer a fast walk to jogging. This is true for those with joint problems affecting the knees or elderly folks. Walking at a brisk pace carries almost identical benefits as jogging. It is also easier than jogging and you can make it a group activity by combining your walks with friends or family.
It has been shown in many studies that walking is the best exercise to lose weight, better even than jogging in terms of weight lost over a comparable time frame. It is also safer and easier to begin. With a walking group to keep you company, you are more likely to continue exercising for a long time without getting bored or giving up.
What speed is right for walking? Well, your benefits are greatest when you walk as briskly as you can. This means you should walk as rapidly as you can, while still being able to conduct a regular conversation without running out of breath.
3. Weight Training
Another great way to burn off extra calories is through weight training. Not only does weight training consume energy during the exercise session, it also continues to keep your body’s metabolic rate higher for a while longer – an effect called the “after burn” – which further uses up calories. Since these calories come from burning up excess stored fat, weight training is among the best exercise to lose weight.
Weight lifting seems counterintuitive when one is thinking about losing weight. After all, when you do weight training, you’ll build muscles – and that will actually increase body weight! But if this misconception is holding you back from going to the gym for weight lifting, change it. The benefits in terms of fat burning and reducing weight are significant indeed.
Also, when you build more muscle, it continues to burn fat for two days after you stop exercising. This means each workout keeps on melting away extra fat for a long time.
4. Cycling
The best exercise to lose weight is bicycling, according to some fans of aerobic workouts. There is little question that cylcing is among the best cardiovascular exercises.
By taking a bike to work, you can avoid traffic jams while enjoying the breeze in your face, burning off calories all the while. Cycling can also be a competitive sport and you can lose weight when you workout by training for contests.
5. Swimming
Swimming is excellent exercise for weight loss and building endurance. Though it may appear effortless, swimming can burn off hundreds of calories. By exercising many large muscle groups, you build strength while melting away surplus fat stores around your waist.
Just doing a few laps around the pool daily will make a significant difference in your level of fitness and tighten your waistline by a few inches. It is also less stressful on your knees and ankles, making it an ideal exercise for people with joint problems and arthritis.
6. Aerobics
Aerobic exercise can be heart healthy and also burn off calories. Exercising for 20 minutes 3 or 4 times in a week can help with weight loss. You can pick from a range of aerobic exercise workouts.
Look around to see which exercise routine might work best for you. By visiting a few websites and watching video recordings of aerobics, you’ll be able to choose the best exercise to lose weight. Try it out and see if you are comfortable with it. Then keep going.
7. Sex
Sex is a great form of exercise, which also bonds partners closer together emotionally and improves the quality of family life.
Regular lovemaking burns off calories, makes your heart healthier and even improves emotional balance. You’ll feel energized, confident and relaxed after sex. That’s why many fitness coaches advocate frequent sex as a desirable form of exercise.
8. Dancing
Dancing is another way to exercise major muscle groups energetically. Dancing increases your heart rate, boosts your metabolism, and makes your muscles stronger. The frequent changes in rhythm and routines keeps you from becoming bored.
There are a wide range of different dances and you can pick your poison. Choose a dance style that fits your physique and lifestyle.
Any one of these can be the best exercise to lose weight, provided you do it at least 3 times in a week and keep each session around at least 20 minutes. These fun ways to lose weight will make you healthier and happier in short order. Enjoy!
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