I get asked a lot if one type of weight loss exercise is better than others. The short answer is that yes, there are some weight loss exercises that are better than others, and they’re relatively simple and easy to perform as well.

Any type of cardio or aerobic exercise is good for helping to burn off excess weight – things like brisk walking, jogging and of course aerobic exercise classes.

You may find it helpful to work out an activity plan for your weight loss exercise program, especially if you haven’t been active for some time. The more detailed your plan, the more likely you are to succeed. You may be trying to make long-term changes in your approach to physical activity so it makes sense to look at the big picture right from the start.

Overall fitness is a combination of three factors: stamina, flexibility, and strength. If your aim is to improve your fitness, you need to do regular activity that makes your heart and lungs work harder (to build stamina), improves mobility in your joints (to increase flexibility) and develops your muscle strength.

If you want to lose weight, you may find that gentle activity, combined with changes in your food intake, is enough to achieve this. If not, however, you will need to burn more calories in order to lose weight. You could do this by increasing the intensity of the weight loss excercises you do, by doing it more often or for longer periods, or by choosing an activity that by its nature burns more calories.

Decide on your goal and then choose an activity that will help you to achieve it. Consider the following to help you determine what you hope to achieve from being more active and how to go about it.

WHY? Decide what you want to achieve by starting your weight loss exercise program. Do you just want to feel healthier? Would you like to lose weight? Your goal will help you plan which type and how much activity you need to fit into your life.

WHAT? Think about the type of activity you want to do. If you enjoy it, you’re more likely to find the time to do it.

WHEN? Be realistic about how often you will be able to pursue an activity. Will an activity be part of your normal day (for example walking to the shops), or will you need to find extra time to do it? If you need to find more time, think about when it will be and how you can fit it around your other commitments.

HOW? Consider what might get in the way of you carrying out your plan. For example, if the time that you set aside for your activity would usually be used to achieve other things, how will you still achieve those things?

WITH WHOM? Could you team up with a friend, partner, or family member? Teaming up with another person can often make getting fit more enjoyable and give you the support and encouragement you need to stay active. Whatever weight loss exercises you perform, it’s always more fun if you have a partner to do them with.

Warming up and cooling down

If your chosen weight loss exercise is fairly intense, it’s important to warm up you begin. You can do this simply by doing your chosen activity at a slow pace for the first ten minutes. This prepares your muscles so that they work better and are less prone to injury. After your activity, cool down by decreasing the intensity of the exercise for the last ten minutes. Finish by stretching – this is very important to prevent muscle pain and injury.

How to Burn Fat