Many of the top exercises to lose weight incorporate aerobics. This mainly targets your legs, hips and bum, which are often the areas that women most want to tone. Doing an hour a day, split into two half an hour sessions, will ensure that you see results within 2 weeks. If you aren’t sure how to do these, check out 7 Best Ab Exercises. Another very similar exercise is bench presses, which go very well in sets with step aerobics. I found it really hard to do them to start with, so make sure you’re doing them right or you’ll see no results!
2. Bicycling
Depending on how fast you go, this can be a real calorie burner. Riding outside is always enjoyable, but if you’re a little more time restricted, invest in a good quality exercise bike. This is my favorite calorie burner, because it’s so easy to do. How about riding while watching the TV? I find that cycling through Eastenders keeps me distracted, but working hard. In case you prefer to ride outside, make sure you take a look at this post called How to Not Get Hit by Cars When Bicycling. Just in case…
Swimming is definitely a top exercise to lose weight, especially in the summer. Doing lengths up and down the pool for an hour will burn off 800 calories, and also tone almost all of your body. Stay motivated by giving yourself half an hour extra to make use of the Jacuzzi when you’ve finished!
4. Racquetball
Calories Burnt: 800 cals/hr
The side to side running involved in this is a great cardio workout, and will also help to tone your thighs and legs. I also find this exercise for losing weight to be much more sociable, which keeps me working out for longer and stops me skipping my gym sessions!
5. Elliptical Burner - my favorite exercise to lose weight
Calories Burnt: 600 cals/hr
This is brilliant cardio, and also helps to build strong muscles, as well as toning the stomach. I personally find Elliptical Burner really great, especially if there is a TV attached to the machine or if you bring along your iPod or iPhone, so that you can listen to your favorite tunes or catch up on latest TV episodes on Hulu. When entertained, you won’t believe how long you can do this exercise for losing weight. I sometimes get so caught in the moment, I spend over an hour on this machine!
6. Rowing
Calories Burnt: 500 – 600 cals/hr
Rowing is a brilliant way to tone your arms, and is also very good fun. Get involved with the local rowing club and you’ll get to try it for free, or simply use the rowing machine at the gym. As well as building arm muscle, you’ll also burn calories and get an incredible workout.
7. Walking
Calories Burnt: 360 cals/hr
The easiest exercise, brisk walking is a great cardio workout and will also help to tone legs, stomach and hips. Sprinting, walking across hills or walking uphill will add to the amount of calories burnt, and walking tends to be very easy to fit into daily life. Just walking to the train station has made me so much fitter, and it really wakes me up going for a brisk walk in the morning. Check out Hate Running? Get Fit Walking! for the detailed walking workout!
8. Dancing – most fun exercise to lose weight
Calories Burnt: 600/800 cal/hr
This targets all over your body, and is an excellent work out. In addition to being one of the top exercises to lose weight, it’s also one of the most fun! I frequently put a music channel on and dance around, as well as burning calories I also find that it’s a great stress reliever! Just make sure you stay active, and try and keep going for at least an hour! If you want to learn some new sexy moves while you are at it, you might want to check out Dancing DVDs reviewed in this post: Do Your Dance Moves Need A Makeover? You can also take a peek at 8 Kinds of Dance that Help You Lose Weight!
9. Exercise DVDs
Calories Burnt: 300/500 cals/hr
While these come under a lot of different headings, some exercise DVDs do actually help you to lose weight and tone up. Find a high energy one, and try and do it once a day. As well as burning calories and toning up, you’ll also feel much fitter. My personal favourite is “Pump It Up”, because the music keeps me motivated!
10. Horse Riding
This one may be slightly harder to arrange, but going horse riding once a week is one of the best ways to stay fit, healthy and enjoy nature. The view from up there is so amazing, you won’t notice that your toning your butt, abs and thighs, and burning calories while your at it! You’d be surprised at how cheap it can be to arrange a session once a weekend, and if your feeling extra fit you could even cycle to the stables! Check out these 7 Riding Tips for more information…
11. Jogging – an easy and pleasant exercise to lose weight
Calories burned per hour: 550 cal/hour
I love to run and jog, and itis so good for your body! Aside from all of the calories youill burn, youill also get a lot of thinking done, without all the distractions of the gym or a workout DVD. Truly, I do some of my best decision-making and problem-solving while Iim on a run.
12. Bouncing on the Trampoline
Who knew something so fun could be such a great exercise for losing weight? Bouncing on the trampoline will get your heart thumping, and itis a blast! See if you can do any tricks, like my favorite, the booty-bounce! Be careful, thoughO a fall can lead to a sprain or a break of epic proportions.
13. Zumba!
Calories burned per hour: 500 cal/hour
Iim far too uncoordinated to do Zumba, but look how many calories you can burn in just one hour! Donit get me wrong o I look ridiculous, but I still do my Zumba classO I just make sure to bring a friend or two so we can laugh about it later!
14. Kickboxing – a very intense yet effective exercise to lose weight
15. Yoga – most relaxing exercise for losing weight
Stretching is good for your body and soul, and itis actually an effective exercise for losing weight! Youill notice an improvement in your tone and flexibility, plus a decrease in back pain, all while burning about 180 calories an hourO even more if youire doing more advanced moves and combining more difficult positions.
16. Soccer
17. Hiking
18. Weight Training is essential exercise for losing weight
While most of us donit need an hour of weight training every day, it ought to be part of a well-rounded workout routine, and itis good to know you can burn about 200 calories if you are able to do an hourO though my personal trainer only recommends about 35 to 40 minutes a day, three days a week.
19. Gardening/Yard Work
20. Cleaning house!
