No matter how you slice it, losing weight is much easier
when you combine exercise with a smart eating plan. Sure, you can stay as
passive as you want, but even if you eat the perfect diet, you can only get so
fit. You will still have flabby muscles that don't burn many calories throughout
the day. If you never exercise, you will slowly shrink in stature and will only
be able to eat so many calories in a day.
But when you exercise on a regular basis, there's no limit
to what you can eat, as you'll always be burning it off. But what exercises
should you do? Luckily, you're reading this article, because you are about to
find out the most important exercises for weight loss.
Perhaps the most popular, and maybe the most effective
exercise for weight loss is running. If you show up at the start of any 10K or
5K race, you won't see too many people who are overweight. The great thing
about running is that you can do it anywhere, any time. Just get a good pair of
shoes, and hit the road. You'll be in shape in no time.
If running isn't your cup of tea, then try some other
exercise that will get your heart rate going for twenty or thirty minutes.
Brisk walking is a good one. There's also plenty of machines at the gym that
are just as good as running, but don't have the high impact. If you're lucky,
you can find a gym that will have a bunch of TV sets in front of the cardio
equipment, so you don't get bored.
Lifting weights is also important. You don't have to try and
look like the Incredible Hulk, but building just a little bit of muscle mass
will send your metabolism through the roof. Just hit the weights a couple of
times a week, and you'll be fine.
If you don't like the idea of pumping iron, then consider
doing some body weight exercises. These are things like sit ups, push ups, and
pull ups. Anything that uses your own body weight as the resistance. The
benefit of these is that you'll never get really big, as you won't be
increasing the weight like you would at the gym. You'll just be increasing the
amount of reps that you'll be doing.
Swimming is a perfect exercise for the entire body. You get
a cardiovascular workout, and you work virtually every muscle in your body. The
only drawback is that you've got to find a swimming pool that's open when it's
convenient for you.
Many people have found that doing martial arts is a great
way to get your whole body in shape. Martial arts uses a lot of isometrics,
which is flexing and relaxing the muscles without using any form of resistance.
Take a look at Bruce Lee to see what you can do with martial arts.
Believe it or not, there are plenty of video games,
specifically the Wii, that will help you lose weight. While these aren't nearly
as active as the ones listed above, they are better than sitting on your couch
watching "The Price Is Right."
No matter which exercise you choose, you'll find some kind
of benefit. Just choose whichever one you feel most comfortable with, and stick
to it. You'll be skinny in no time.
