The Best Exercises to Lose Weight

The best exercises to lose weight are cardiovascular, known as cardio, exercises. These are effective at raising the heart rate and burning calories. They also boost the metabolic rate, which is the rate at which calories are burnt by the body to fuel daily living activities. Once the metabolic rate is raised by exercise, it remains elevated for some time afterwards, burning even more calories and fat. Here is a quick guide to the different types of cardio exercise you can try;

Walking and Running
These are easy to do- just put on a good pair of running shoes and walk out of the door. Although running burns more calories then walking, it is a higher impact exercise as your feet and legs have to absorb the impact of the road surface, so it does have the potential to cause strain and injury if you do not build up gradually.

If you are not keen on walking or running outside or the weather is bad, you can use a treadmill for your workouts, either in a gym or in your own home. Treadmills have the advantage of providing a more cushioned running surface, which lessens impact.

Ideally you should exercise at a pace where your heart rate is raised and you feel a little out of breath, but you can still talk fairly easily.

Cycling
This is a good exercise to do if you want to avoid strain or injury as your bodyweight is supported by the bike. You don’t need much in the way of specialist equipment- just a cycle and a good cycling helmet and you are away. Cycling can be a great time saver too as you can easily cycle to places such as work or to the store instead of taking the car. It is also a great exercise for getting the whole family involved.

If you are short on time, or don’t want to cycle outside, you can purchase stationary bikes to use inside whenever you have a few moments free.

Swimming
This is an ideal exercise if you are injured or have not exercised for some time, as your bodyweight is completely supported and cushioned by the water.

If you are not sure of your swimming technique, or have not swum for several years, consider investing in a refresher course of lessons to increase your confidence.

Other Cardio Exercises
The elliptical trainer and rowing machine at the gym also provide a very good cardio workout. Rowers work the whole body and most of the major muscle groups, so are very effective at burning calories and fat.

Elliptical trainers mimic the action of walking, running and cross-country skiing, giving you the advantages of doing all of these exercises. They also allow you to work out your arms at the same time. Both elliptical trainers and rowing machines support your bodyweight, making them low impact cardio exercises. It is possible to purchase machines for use at home if you don’t enjoy going to the gym.

Fortunately most of these best exercises to lose weight can be comfortably fitted into your daily routine, especially if you purchase machines to workout in the comfort and convenience of your own home.