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Calories in, calories out. If the calories you take in are greater than the calories you work off, you're going to find yourself putting on a little extra fat. Follow that path for awhile and things can pile up. And around. The greater this calorie gap, the greater the spare tire you'll be lamenting.
If burning fat is your goal, exercise is at the top of the list. Of the many types of exercise that burn fat, all of them have one thing in common -- the more calories you burn, the more fat that will disappear.
Exercise that raises your heart rate, such as high-impact aerobics, jogging, jumping rope, kick-boxing and spinning, burns calories and can be quite effective.
For those who are just starting out, and aren't ready for intense workouts, interval training may be a good place to start. This involves exercising, for instance running, for a few minutes, then walking for a few more. Alternating back and forth between heavier and lighter exertion can help you gradually increase your workout quotient while also raising your heart rate and burning calories.
Though walking isn't the most efficient way to burn fat, if you haven't been very physically active in awhile, walking might be the best way to start out on your new fat-burning adventure.
A vigorous half-hour walk up to five times a week, as long as it's done regularly, will make a dent over time.
Water exercise is another fairly gentle way to start losing weight. The water resistance provides a full-body workout, while raising your heart rate and burning calories and it is gentle on your joints.
Another type of resistance would be weight training, or strength training. It's called resistance training for a reason. Muscles will get a workout, and your body will burn more fat the more your muscles develop. Even when you're not exercising, your metabolism speeds up and fat will burn faster.
Strength training is very important to weight loss. Increased muscle mass will always burn more calories for an equivalent amount of exertion. Muscle burns more calories, so the more muscle mass you've built up, the more efficient your fat burning will be.
Another type of interval training comes into play with weights. Here, interval training involves incorporating a variety of types of exercise into your regimen. You might alternate between weight training and cardio exercise.
If you like the idea of mixing and matching workouts, taking a small weight in each hand when you go for your walk will increase the amount of fat you'll burn. This can also be done with many exercises like lunges. Your arms will benefit from the weights, while your abdomen, hips and legs will also benefit from the lunges.
Jody Smith is a freelance writer for EmpowHER.com.
Sources:
Best Exercise to Burn Fat - Key Points
http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/best-exercise-to-burn-fat.html
Exercise to Burn Fat - Getting Best Results
