5 Types of Exercise that Help with Weight Loss

WRITTEN BY: Jennifer Strout, founder of MotivateU

You can improve your ability to achieve your weight loss goals by maintaining a balanced diet and performing regular exercises. This combination aids in burning calories and building lean muscle mass, allowing your body to shed extra fat and to improve overall health.

Here are some of the best exercises that help with weight loss:

1. Cardiovascular exercise:
Cardiovascular exercises such as running, cycling, swimming, and jumping jacks are great options. These exercises increase your heart rate, burning calories in the process. Cardiovascular exercises also improve lung capacity and endurance, making your body more efficient at burning fat.

2. Weightlifting:
Weightlifting is an effective exercise to build muscle mass, which boosts metabolism. By performing weightlifting exercises, you increase muscle mass, which allows your body to burn more calories at rest. Weightlifting exercises such as squats, lunges, deadlifts and bench press will allow you to both build muscle and burn fat.

3. HIIT:
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a popular exercise method that helps you burn calories. By performing short bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of rest, you push your body to burn more calories than traditional cardio. HIIT exercises include jump squats, burpees, and mountain climbers.

4. Yoga:
Yoga is an excellent exercise for weight loss, improving your flexibility, and improving mental health. By practicing yoga regularly, you can increase strength and tone muscles, leading to fat loss. Yoga also helps to reduce stress levels, which can lead to overeating. Some great yoga poses for weight loss include downward-facing dog, warrior pose, and bridge pose.

5. Dancing:
Dancing is a fun and effective way to burn calories and to improve your mood. Whether it's zumba, salsa, or hip-hop, dancing will help you tone your muscles and burn fat. Dancing is also a great way to improve your heart health, coordination, and overall rhythm.

In conclusion, weight loss through exercise is achievable by performing a variety of exercises and maintaining a balanced diet. Remember each body reacts differently, so choose what suits your fitness goals and preferences. Regardless of the type of exercise, consistency is key to seeing results. So, start slow and gradually increase the intensity over time. If you’re looking for guidance on how to properly perform this, and other poses, check out our realtime form tracking with continuous feedback- available on all live and on-demand classes.​

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