The Best Way to Lose Weight with 3 Workout Styles

Finding an exercise style that works for you is the best way to lose weight. With a reported 50 million people making weight loss a resolution every year and only 5% successfully losing and maintaining, it’s obvious that losing weight is not just a walk in the park. And there’s that little thing called a diet to worry about too. With so many weight loss products and programs out there, it’s hard to know which exercise style is the best exercise to lose weight. The fitness models in the infomercials demonstrating a weight loss product probably didn’t use it to achieve those sculpted bodies. And unfortunately for those of us who can’t afford a private trainer, a nutritionist, and a chef like our beloved celebs, losing weight is much easier said than done. So what is the best way to lose weight? The answer is simple. The best way to lose weight is  good old-fashioned exercise that burns more calories than you consume.

There’s no magic trick in how to lose weight. Exercise combined with a proper diet is the best way to lose weight. A combination of the following three exercise styles and weight loss products gives you the best way to lose weight and maintain it too:

Best Way to Lose Weight with Resistance Training

Exercise that enables you to contract muscles against an outside resistance falls under resistance training. Be it from dumbbells, weight machines, your own body weight, or resistance bands, the goal of resistance training is to gain muscle strength and tone. Weight training is among the most popular resistance exercises.

Ultimately, resistance exercises increases your metabolism and builds muscle mass. For every pound of muscle gained, an additionally 50 calories is burned per day. By using dumbbells and resistance bands of various weights as well as a pull up bar, you can benefit from some of the best exercise for losing weight with resistance training.

Resistance Training Exercises:

• dumbbells: bench press; alternating bicep curls; seated triceps extension
• resistance bands: squats; bent over rows; alternating lying chest press
• pull up bar: chin ups; reverse press ups

Best Way to Lose Weight with Cardio

Cardiovascular exercise, otherwise known as aerobic exercise, uses the major muscle groups (such as the legs) to improve the functions of the cardiovascular system – heart, lungs, veins and arteries. Aerobic meaning “with oxygen” refers to the use of oxygen in the metabolic process. Essentially, this all works to burn calories and fat and provides some of the best exercise to lose weight. There are about 3500 calories in each pound of fat, so cardio is crucial for fat burning and weight loss. Gaining muscle from resistance training is great, but you won’t see your progress if you have lots of fat to get rid of first.

Cardio increases metabolism and reduces risk of heart disease and strokes while improving cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Cardio can be separated into outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, and indoor exercises. Investing in a treadmill, a stationary bike, or an elliptical trainer is a good way to lose weight through cardio.

Cardio Exercises:

• treadmill: 30 minute interval run
• stationary bike: intense effort 8 seconds, recovery 12 seconds (repeat steps for 20 minutes)
• elliptical trainer: warm up, low exertion, moderate, hard (each 5 minutes)

Best Way to Lose Weight with Yoga

Originating in India, yoga combines spiritual, mental, and physical practices. Yoga involves breathing disciplines, mediation, and bodily postures that aid in health and relaxation. With several branches of yoga including Bhakti and Karma, you can find a great way in how to lose weight. Out of the three exercise types, yoga requires the least intensity but don’t think that it’s not useful. There’s a common misconception that in order for a workout to be effective, you either have to be in pain or doing something strenuous. That’s far from true.

Yoga is paramount to gaining flexibility and increased range of motion reduces risk of exercise injuries. Yoga benefits include stress reduction and muscle tone and strength. Another great thing about yoga is it doesn’t require many products in order to do it.

Yoga Exercises:

• yoga mat, yoga block, yoga strap
• Downward facing dog, upward facing dog
• Warrior I, Warrior II, Warrior III
• Cat-cow stretch sequence

The most successful weight loss regimens are the ones that suit your lifestyle and goals. However, a combination of all three workout types is ideal for losing weight. Varying your workouts from day-to-day promotes muscle confusion, which disables your body from getting used to a particular exercise so you consistently lose weight. This is the best way to lose weight and you won’t have to worry about a plateau! With the proper exercise and good nutrition you’re bound to succeed.