An Overview of Weight Loss Exercises

If you're looking to lose weight healthfully, you'll need to adopt both a healthy diet and a regular exercise plan. When designing an exercise plan, try to integrate enjoyable weight loss exercises that will help you meet your goals.

After analyzing your preferences, athletic abilities and goals, you can determine which weight loss exercise plan best fits your needs. Luckily, you have many options, including:

• Aerobic exercise classes, which help strengthen the ability of the heart and lungs to distribute oxygen to other parts of the body. You can take advantage of aerobic weight loss exercises in a class or on your own.
• Cardio exercise, or cardiovascular exercise, improves stamina, eventually allowing you to engage in physical activity for prolonged periods of time. Depending on your age, these types of exercises may be especially effective at burning fat when you reach your goal heart rate (a heart-rate monitor can help).
• Cycling chiefly works the heart, lungs and lower body. The success of your exercise plan will depend on the intensity and distance of your cycling program. Generally, cycling is less stressful on joints than running, but it can have a similarly effective impact on health.
• Dancing supports good health and weight loss. Popular dance-based activities--like Zumba®--offer alternatives to traditional aerobics classes and other cardio weight loss exercises.
• Hiking provides aerobic benefits outdoors. If you include hiking in your exercise plan, consider increasing the intensity of your workout by carrying a pack or researching challenging hiking trails.
• Interval training alternates brief periods of maximum activity with periods of rest. Athletes often employ these types of exercises to decrease body fat and improve cardio performance.
• Sports activity on a regular basis keeps the body in constant training. Most sports require training that varies in intensity and type of workout, which may help you control your weight.
• Swimming is among the most challenging exercises for both amateur and seasoned athletes. Swimming is a full body exercise that utilizes different muscle groups at once, such as the arms, the legs and the cardiovascular system. It's also low-impact, meaning it won't stress your joints the way some other exercises will.
• Weight training is anaerobic on its own. Unlike other types of exercises--like running, cycling or other aerobic activity--weight training improves muscular strength through body weight exercise, free weights or machines.
• Yoga and Pilates are stretch-based exercises that integrate strength and conditioning elements. Both practices employ balance poses that improve flexibility, fitness and help improve other forms of exercise through improved flexibility and balance.

Keep reading to learn about these various types of exercise, and how to create an exercise plan that will effectively help you lose weight. Consult your doctor before starting a new exercise or weight loss program.

Resources

Health Talk Now. (n.d.). Types of exercise. Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www.healthtalknow.com/exercise-examples.html

Improving Health