What are the best exercises for weight loss?

gym classThere’s no magic workout for weight loss, but cross training is a healthy plan. Cross training means balancing a variety of cardiovascular, muscle conditioning, and flexibility activities. This prevents boredom, so you will stick with your fitness routine.

Cardiovascular activities are exercises that use your heart muscle, burn energy, and build muscle. These include: sports, cheerleading, power walking, running, dancing, or other exercises that make you sweat.

Muscle conditioning exercises include weight lifting and toning exercises such as pushups, sit-ups, or leg lifts. Playing sports and doing yoga can build muscles too. Building muscle raises your metabolism (how your body burns food for energy), and may help prevent osteoporosis (thinning of the bones).

Flexibility exercises stretch your muscles. Injury prevention is an important benefit of stretching.