What is the best exercise to lose weight? I get that question a lot. The truth is, there are a few factors that need to be considered. Regardless of what infomercials may tell you, no, there is a not 1 move, 1 machine, or even 1 pill that will get you the results you are looking for. If you want to get scientific, studies have shown that cross country skiing burns the most calories. For most of us, throwing on a pair of skis and hitting the trails is not really an option, at least not on a regular basis. So, let’s take a look at a few factors to help you determine the best exercise for YOU to lose weight. IMPORTANT – At the end of this article, you will find a great 30 minute workout from Tony Horton. If you are serious about losing weight, it is a great place to start!
- What do you enjoy? Wait, what? Why does that matter? It’s simple. While there are exceptions, if you do not enjoy what you are doing, you are not going to continue doing it. If I told you that the best exercise you could do was running, and you hate running, chances are that you would not do it much, if at all. Think about an activity that you enjoy. Ideally, it will work your large muscle groups, get your heart rate up, and get the calories burning. If you like following workout programs, I suggest checking out Beachbody on Demand HERE. It’s cheap (about $3/week), and you get instant access to about 700 workouts. The trainers include Tony Horton, Shaun T, Sagi Kalev, Autumn Calabrese, Chalene Johnson, and more. Here is a quick glimps into Beachbody on Demand.
CLICK HERE TO START NOW
- What limitations do you have? If you have bad knees, running probably isn’t going to work well for you. If you have a bad shoulder, swimming may be out. Pick something that won’t have you doing more harm than good. When in doubt, a bike is usually a safe bet, stationary or regular. It may not be as intense as some other exercises, but it is pretty easy on your joints. Walking is also an extremely underrated exercise. It’s easy on the joints, gets your heart rate up, and gets you outside for some fresh air (depending on where you live)
- Do you enjoy working out alone or with people? One of the biggest challenges people face when trying to lose weight is motivation. If you are self-motivated, AWESOME! However, most people are not. For those people that do not have the unusual love for exercise, finding a support system is crucial. Find an activity that you like, and find others who enjoy it to. There are some great resources out there for this. One of Meetup.com. Meetup is great because you can find people in your area. A few years back I found an Ultimate Frisbee group in my area. We met up Wednesday nights and played on the beach for a few hours. There are tons of groups for tons of activities. Another great resource is the FREE Beachbody Membership. It gets you onto the Beachbody message boards, where you can talk to people from around the world, get your fitness questions answered, share your story, and more! Find something you like, find others who enjoy it too, and build a support team.
You may have started reading this hoping to just get an exercise recommendation. Like I said, it’s not that simple. If you are looking for diversity (which I highly recommend), check out Beachbody on Demand. If you are looking for a support system, check out Meetup.com, a FREE Beachbody Membership, or one of the countless other opportunities out there to build a support system.
Ready to workout? Here is an awesome 30 minute workout from Tony Horton that you can do right now. ENJOY!
