Exercise Information

What is the Best Exercise for Weight Loss?


It is a common misconception that aerobic exercise tones/firms muscles. Actually it accomplishes very little toning/firming. Resistance exercise (weight training) is where real toning/firming of muscles occurs.

Doing both aerobics and weight training is the optimal way to lose more fat and gain more muscle. If you are trying to lose weight, studies show that weight loss increases by 56 percent with aerobic and strength exercises combined. Muscle may weigh more, but when you increase your muscle composition, the body is able to burn more fat, even when you are resting, because your metabolism is higher. A pound of muscle will use 350 to 500 calories per week to survive, while a pound of fat only needs about 14 calories per week. New studies have shown that building muscle helps your body fight disease better, too.

Strength training benefits everyone, no matter what age or sex, and is becoming recognized as an important component of fitness. Research is indicating that the muscle loss found in elderly people doesn't come from age, but lack of activity. Even a young person who doesn't get enough exercise can lose muscle mass and strength. Strength training, such as lifting weights or performing weight-resistance exercises, as little as twice a week can help maintain or increase muscle mass.

Strength training involving several sets of many repetitions using moderate weights will not result in huge muscles. Instead it builds bone mass, increases the metabolism and tones and firms muscles, giving a leaner look.

It is very important to do both aerobics and strength exercises. The aerobic exercises help your heart and lungs get stronger and help your body utilize oxygen more efficiently, which in turn helps with strength training and overall fitness. The strength exercise helps develop muscle, reduce body fat and maintain bone mass.

Aerobic Exercise is a type of exercise that elevates the heart rate and breathing for a continuous sustained period. This overloads the heart and lungs and causes them to work harder than at rest.

There are many options to choose from today. Bicycling, aerobic dance, swimming, walking, and stepping are all examples of aerobic exercise. Which ones to chose depends on your physical condition, your history, your interests and your goals. Many experts believe it is better to alternate between 2 or more types, to get a better workout.

There are two main types of aerobics- high impact and low impact. It is better to alternate between high impact aerobics (which are harder on the body and may cause more damage) and low impact aerobics, such as walking and swimming. This is called cross-training, and helps reduce the chance or injury and overuse of certain muscles.

You will want to perform aerobic exercises at least 20 minutes a day for at least 3 to 4 days a week. If you are trying to lose body fat, or your physical condition is very good, then you may want to work longer at it. Try exercising up to 40 to 60 minutes 5 to 6 days a week.

Remember there is no real need to knock yourself out. Moderate intensity is almost always better and is more enjoyable. Low to moderate intensity is an especially good idea when starting out after a layoff or recovery from illness or injury, or if you are significantly overweight.

Warm-up and cool down is important to reduce discomfort and the chance of injury. Warm up by starting slow and gradually build up to your top speed. Then slow down again at the end of your workout.

The whole idea behind aerobic exercise is to get up and get moving! Find something you enjoy doing that keeps your heart rate elevated for a continuous time period and get moving to a healthier life.

By Dianne Ronnow © 2005 Mohave Publishing. All rights reserved. From the Enzyme-health Blog found at Enzyme-Health.com.

Dianne Ronnow's best selling book, "Coconut Oil Diet Secrets" reveals how thousands of people are losing weight and getting healthier with coconut oil diets.

To find out what the secrets of coconut oil dieting are, Check out her site at: Coconut-Oil-Diet.com. Get the book now and start losing weight today!


MORE RESOURCES:

Bad, bad belly fat susceptible to exercise
Detroit Free Press, United States - 15 hours ago
And this is where recent research about exercise and belly fat comes in. A study reported this fall from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in ...


With the Right Motivation, That Home Gym Makes Sense
New York Times, United States - 18 hours ago
Do you have exercise equipment in your house that you don't use? Join the discussion. Today, my top-of-the-line exercise machine sits idle most of the time. ...
Want to Get Fit? Don't Buy Exercise Equipment... Male Pattern Fitness
all 5 news articles


Employer-Sponsored Workouts Boost Workers' Health
Washington Post, United States - 8 hours ago
Home Depot employees who participated in a company-sponsored program to support workers in setting exercise goals notably increased their levels of moderate ...
Goal-Setting Drills Make for More Active Coworkers Newswise (press release)
all 14 news articles


Local exercise programs anything but routine
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 16 hours ago
Each exercise is scaled to each individual, so newbies, veterans and everyone in between fits into the workout scene. 20s to their mid-60s. ...


TPMCafé

US must exercise leverage on Israel
Danbury News Times, CT - 22 hours ago
We will not exercise the leverage on Israel necessary to achieve peace; we will continue to alienate Arabs in the street; we have bankrupted ourselves as an ...
Video: Israeli attack on Gaza school kills 30 RussiaToday
Russian presidential envoy visits Syria over Gaza Xinhua
An Endgame for Israel Wall Street Journal
Los Angeles Times - Washington Post
all 26,608 news articles


Bomb exercise scares uninformed Catholic school
Daily Camera, CO - 3 hours ago
Tuesday's drill was a training exercise in the empty school involving SWAT and bomb disposal officers. Police said they won't release details about the ...
Police to train at Casey Middle School Daily Camera
all 7 news articles


FLIR Systems Announces Exercise of Option Under $13.5 Million ...
CNNMoney.com - Jan 5, 2009
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has received notification from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) of its intent to exercise a ...


TRG Drivers Exercise KONI Porsches at Daytona
WhoWon.com, NE - 7 hours ago
by Kyle Chura, TRG Motorsports DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Three TRG KONI Sports Car Challenge cars took part in the Roar Before The 24 at the Daytona ...


Teach children an exercise in gratitude: Thank-you notes
Springfield News Sun, OH - 4 hours ago
By Darci Jordan SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Call me old fashioned, or maybe I expect too much, but are thank you notes no longer a part of proper etiquette? ...


Don’t starve a cold of exercise
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - Jan 5, 2009
Will exercise have no effect, or make you feel better or worse? It is a question, surprisingly enough, that stumps many exercise physiologists and ...

Exercise - Google News

home | site map
© 2006