A weight loss workout is just as important as a healthy diet if you're aiming to lose weight and get back in shape -- so what's the best way to burn body fat and build muscle?
Exercise has almost too many benefits to list: it burns calories, fires up your metabolism, helps you to lose weight and tones your body. Done regularly, exercise can completely reshape your body and keep it that way.
Conventional exercise wisdom stresses the importance of cardio when it comes to weight loss, but that's only half the story. Sure, aerobic activity burns calories and can be a good fat burner, but strength training is just as important to your weight loss workout -- if not more so!
Strength training builds muscle and muscle tissue burns most of the calories you expend each day. It makes sense to increase your muscle mass so you burn more calories each day and whilst you sleep!
Cardio activities like swimming and rowing give you a good aerobic workout and given the resistance of the water, double up as a strength training exercise. However, for maximum effectiveness try combining strength training using your bodyweight, free weights or machines with cardio in the same workout.
Rather than do the traditional low intensity 30 minutes or more cardio workout in the 'fat burning zone', which let's face it is pretty boring and not particularly effective, try interval training. Short workouts of around 15-20 minutes of high intensity intervals for around 30-60 seconds on a treadmill or exercise bike, interspersed with a couple of minutes of low intensity active recovery, like jogging, walking or slow pedalling. You'll burn more calories in less time and make your weight loss workout far more effective.
If you're busy and pushed for time, try a 45 minute workout made up of 15-20 minutes of strength training followed by 20 minutes of high intensity interval training. Do this three times a week and you'll burn fat and build muscle in less time, freeing up the time you'd otherwise spend on long workouts to do the fun things in life!
So, to maximise the effectiveness of your weight loss workout, combine strength training with interval training to increase the calories you burn each day with a healthy, calorie controlled diet to reduce your calorie intake. Make your three, short workouts the basis of your weekly routine and you'll be in shape far more quickly than you would by dieting alone.
Marcus Warnes is a health promotion specialist with nearly 20 years experience in fitness, healthcare and wellness. If you'd like more information and advice on effective exercise and workout routines to incorporate as part of a weight loss and fitness program, then why not check out our weight loss workouts? You've nothing to lose...except a few extra pounds, that is!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Warnes
0 comments:
Post a Comment