Aerobic exercise can be a key factor in meeting your weight loss goals, no matter what your age. Most people understand the role calorie restriction plays in weight loss, but dieting alone is not enough if you want to drop pounds and keep your energy level. Aerobic exercise helps burn off those calories while enhancing your metabolism, so you feel great.
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic
There are two types of exercise: aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic exercise means “with oxygen” and is the type that gets your heart pounding and your body “glistening” with sweat. Bike riding, swimming, jogging, and brisk walking are all examples of aerobic exercises. Aerobics increase the heart rate because the muscles demand more oxygen to keep working and the heart has move that oxygenated blood to the waiting muscles. Aerobics are also referred to as cardiovascular exercise because they strengthen the most important muscle in your body – your heart. At the same time, they burn calories, forcing your body to turn to its reserve energy stores – body fat.
Burning Calories Through Aerobic Exercise
The simple arithmetic of successful weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume. When that happens, your body will break down fat to get the additional energy it needs to keep moving. Burning an extra 500 calories a day beyond what you eat will equate to one pound of weight loss in a week. Aerobics is also a flexible form of exercise in terms of weight management results. Someone who burns 500 calories per day running for 20 minutes gets the same benefit as one who burns 500 calories in four 10-minute brisk walking sessions. They have each burned 500 calories working out that day. When combined with a balanced and healthy diet, those burned calories will show up in numbers that make you smile when you step on the scale.
Turning Up the Furnace
Along with burning calories as you workout, aerobic exercise turns up your calorie burning furnace by helping to increase your metabolism. The muscle toning effects of exercise will mean that you will continue to burn calories at a higher rate for hours after your workout is complete. This is especially true if you focus on high-intensity exercise, which includes a combination of aerobics and strength training in a given session. This type of cross-training is a great way to eliminate the boredom of one continuous exercise. What exercise is best weight loss? The answer for everyone is…THE ONE YOU CAN STICK WITH! Find an exercise or a routine that you enjoy and be consistent. One of the best choices is also one of the easiest. Brisk walking outside or on a treadmill works many major muscle groups and increases your heart rate at the same time. And walking has minimal negative impact effects on your joints. Add in some upper body work with dumbbells or stretch cords and you will have burned calories, toned muscles, strengthened your heart and made progress toward your ideal weight. How great is that!
Premier Fitness Source can provide guidance help you find the right fitness plan for your personal needs and offers equipment to supplement or enhance your aerobic exercise plan. Call or visit one of our showrooms today to talk with a Certified Fitness Consultant.