Exercises to Lose Weight

Exercise, along with a healthy diet, are the two most important components of weight loss. Fat accumulates in the body when a person consumes more calories than are needed for general maintenance. To lose excess body fat, one can increase their existing level of activity, which will use up the extra calories they are consuming and storing. According to Timothy Church, MD, MPH, PhD, a professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La, "The best exercise to lose weight is: 'the exercise you'll do'. Exercises for quick weight loss are aimed at achieving two objectives; burning excess fat and toning muscles.

Exercises for Women and Men

Aerobics: Also called cardiovascular exercise, they are aimed at improving the body's oxygen consumption. Many different activities fall within this category. If you are looking for exercises to do at home, a good option to start with is step aerobics. These exercises focus on working out the legs and hips, which are problem areas for most people. You can do two half hour sessions in the comfort of your home, using a step exercise video. Another advantage of these aerobics exercises is that they do not require a large space. In an hour of step aerobics you will burn 800 calories.

Jogging and Running: Jogging or running are among the most effective exercises for shedding some pounds faster. The best aspect about these forms of exercise is that they help with overall weight loss and toning. However, if you are new to exercising, then start with walking, and once your body gets accustomed to movement, you can break into a jog and then a run. Jogging or running can be done indoors on a treadmill or in the great outdoors. If you choose to run outdoors, make use of any slopes, for jogging uphill is a great way to burn calories.

Cycling: It is said that the two things that stop people from losing weight with exercise are either boredom or injury. By including different kinds activities in your exercise routine one can beat monotony, and keep alive the desire to exercise. One such activity is cycling, for it is loads of fun, and also an excellent aerobic exercise. One benefit of cycling is that you can incorporate it into your daily schedule, by using it to commute to work or school. However, if this is not feasible, you can set aside time for cycling everyday. If you want to exercise in the comfort of your home, you can use a stationary exercise bike. Alternately, if you enjoy adventure sports, you can try mountain biking or cross-country cycling.

Sports: Certain sports are a great way to burn calories and also enjoy ones exercise routine. Swimming is one such sport, and you can burn about 800 calories in an hour of swimming. It is said to be among the best whole body workouts, and will work on almost all the major muscle groups of your body. In addition, it is fun and a great way to stay cool in the summers. If you weight about 200 pounds, an hour of roller blading can help you burn about 1,138 calories in an hour, while basketball, football and singles tennis will also help you burn about 700 calories on an average. Taekwondo is also a very good option, with the burning capacity of about 900 calories per hour.

Dancing is a fun way to lose weight, and pick up a new skill. You can either join a class, or give it a go on your own; just make sure you keep moving for an hour. Lastly, remember that apart from exercises, you also need to follow a healthy diet, or all your efforts will be futile.