If you are overweight, or big boned, and would like to lose a couple of pounds, you’ve come to the right place. Every successful weight loss campaign is based on two things. Diet, and exercise. Here I’ll be talking about various kinds of exercise to help you lose weight. Keep in mind that everybody is different, so simply choose which kind of exercise that you think you’ll be comfortable doing on a consistent basis. When it comes to weight loss, consistency is key.
All exercises fall into two categories. Those that burn a combination of oxygen and fat for long term activity, or aerobic exercises, and those that burn short term energy stored in the muscle tissue, or anaerobic exercises. Running and weight lifting are two good examples of these two different kinds of exercise.
Running is by far the most popular form of aerobic activity. Cycling, swimming, speed walking and rowing are also favorites. If you visit the gym, they’ll usually have a whole section dedicated to aerobic exercise. Stationary bikes are popular because you can get a good workout without putting too much pressure on your joints.
Anaerobic exercises are short bursts of high intensity movements that primarily used energy stored in the muscles. These don’t rely on oxygen, so you can only do them for a short time. Sprints, weightlifting, and body weight exercises are examples of these. These are great for building muscle tone and definition. There are virtually hundreds of different ways you can achieve this in the gym.
Which is best? Whichever you feel the most comfortable doing. If you like the lean, slim look, go for running or cycling. If you are looking for a toned, chiseled look, go for weight training or circuit training. Either way, whichever you feel most comfortable with is best for you.
There are some people that prefer doing both. They’ll run on odd numbered days, and do weight training one even numbered days. This is fine, if you want the best of both worlds. Many people find that by adding a variety to their workout, they can more easily find the motivation to keep it up day after day.
If you want to learn powerful exercises to lose Weight, have a look at Stephanie Wilkinsen’s proven exercises to lose weight page.