If you are dedicated to fighting the battle of the bulge in keeping your body in shape, you know that the old-fashioned approach is the only way to reach your goals. You need to eat a healthy, balanced diet and you need to exercise. An effective, fitness regimen takes dedication. You have to be committed and expect some blood, sweat, and tears. If you don’t work at it on a regular basis, you won’t get results. The most important thing you need to realize is that you have to choose the right kind of workout to burn up those calories, shed the fat, and build muscle. Use a combination of techniques and your body will respond accordingly.
How Does Your Fitness Workout Burn the Calories?
Whether you are already a fitness guru or you want to get a jumpstart on an exercise program, you need to understand how you can get the most out of your workout. The key is in targeting your metabolism. Through the process of metabolism, your body takes all of your calorie intake, combines it with oxygen, and turns it into the energy that fuels your body. Incorporate a combination of physical activities into your daily life and you can give your body’s natural rate of metabolism a boost. Burn more calories and you’ll store less fat. You’ll be able to maintain your ideal body weight or lose weight if necessary.
What’s it Going to Take to Make Your Fitness Regimen Work for You?
If you want to see those calories burn up as fast as possible, you need to change things up. Do the same thing all of the time and your metabolism will level out. However, using aerobic training on one day and alternating with strength training on the next will be to your advantage. Aerobic exercise involves activities like running, biking, swimming, and walking. Plan on at least thirty minutes of aerobic activity. On days that you incorporate strength training, you will be building muscle. As your muscle mass increases, your body will burn more calories in the process. A variety of strength exercises is the key to success in any exercise regimen.
Don’t Forget Daily Activities
While your fitness workout is a must to get rid of excess calories, you can also choose activities during your day that will help you to burn more. Walk to work when possible. We talked with Orange Theory Fitness about how to make this happen, and they said, “Park as far away from the building anyplace that you go. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk the hallways at work on your break. Stand up while watching your favorite program on television and do some squats or lift weights at the same time. Keep your body moving and you’ll find that you have an efficient metabolism.”
Stay the Course
The most important thing you need to remember is that you can’t give up or be casual about fitness. It needs to be a habit, a part of your daily life that you won’t miss. If you want to keep your body fit, you’ve got to work at it. Be sure to choose activities that fire you up and give you enjoyment. Challenge yourself. Try new forms of exercise that may light a spark. Get involved with others. When you have a partner in fitness, it’s harder to slack off. Make sure you have indoor and outdoor alternatives so that there are no excuses. If you are traveling or have long hours at work, you can still make time for your body. It’s the only way you will consistently burn calories and stay in shape.
