5 Best Exercises to Lose Weight: Your Path to a Healthier You!

Are you struggling to lose those extra pounds? No worries—we’ve got the solution right here! With best exercises for weight loss, you can reach your weight-loss goals and also improve your overall health and fitness.

Why Exercise Matters for Weight Loss

Before you jump into starting the exercises, you must keep one thing in mind: changing your eating habits alone is not enough [1]. To lose weight successfully, you need to add regular exercise to your daily routine. It is best to aim for at least 300 minutes of moderately intense exercises every week to lose weight correctly. And don’t let that number scare you—let’s have a look at the exercises that are effective and enjoyable at the same time!

The 5 Best Exercises for Weight Loss

1. Walking: Your Perfect Starting Point

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly exercise that really works, walking is your answer! [1] By adding just 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine, you could burn about 150 extra calories each day [2]. What’s even better? It’s a lower-impact exercise that won’t stress your joints, making it perfect for beginners. You can start with shorter walks and gradually build up to longer, more intense sessions.

2. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Here’s an exercise that packs a serious punch! [1] HIIT alternates between intense physical activity and less intense exercise, and while you shouldn’t do it every day, it’s very effective for weight loss. The research shows that HIIT burns 25-30% more calories per minute than other types of exercise! This makes these exercises worth spending time on. HIIT includes weight training, cycling, and running on a treadmill [2]. Plus, your body will continue to burn fat for up to 24 hours after your workout!

3. Swimming

You have achy joints or back pain? Swimming might be your perfect match! [1] It’s easy on your joints while giving both your upper and lower body a fantastic workout [2]. A person who weighs around 140 pounds can burn about 9 calories per minute when swimming at a moderate pace. But the benefits don’t stop there—regular swimming can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers!

4. Strength Training

Don’t skip the weights! [2] Weight training helps build strength and promote muscle growth, which then increases your resting metabolic rate (RMR)—meaning you’ll burn more calories even when you’re not exercising! Studies show that just 11 minutes of strength-based exercises three times per week can increase your metabolic rate by 7.4%, helping you burn an additional 125 calories per day.

5. Cycling

Love the outdoors or prefer staying in? Cycling works great either way! [1] You can burn between 400-750 calories an hour riding a bike, depending on your weight and intensity. [2] The best part is that it’s a low-impact exercise that won’t stress your joints, and regular cycling can improve your overall fitness and insulin sensitivity while lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Important Safety Tips

Here are a few other important things that you should keep in mind before you start exercising:

• Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine- in case you have any health issues. [1]
• Start exercising slowly and then gradually increase the intensity with time.
• Pay attention to your body and take breaks when needed.
• Stay consistent with your routine.
• Keep in mind that losing weight is a process, not a competition [2].

Keep in mind that healthy weight loss typically means losing 1-2 pounds per week [2]. More rapid weight loss might lead to muscle loss and other health issues. The key is finding exercises you enjoy—this makes it more likely that you’ll stick with them long-term and see lasting results!

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