The Best Weight Loss Exercises

The best weight loss exercises maximize your calorie burn in the least amount of time. You always want to choose an exercise you will enjoy in order to stay motivated. There will be days, however, when you are not as motivated about exercising, which is the reason you should optimize your time. You will find that as you start to see results, your motivation will increase. You will lose weight and begin seeing the form and definition of your healthy muscles.

Rollerblading

As a weight loss exercise, rollerblading cannot be beat. According to the Mayo Clinic, this highly intense workout can burn more than 900 calories an hour for a 160-pound person. Just four hours of rollerblading can translate into more than 1 pound of weight loss.
Rollerblading, like other effective weight loss exercises, has a high calorie burn because you use your entire body. Your legs and arms are in constant motion and your abdominal muscles help keep you balanced. As long as you are on the move, you are engaging all of these muscles.

Cross Country Skiing

Cross country skiing, while not a year-round activity, is one of the most effective exercises you can do for losing weight. It is an intense cardio workout that makes it easy to reach your target heart rate. It works both your upper and lower body, engaging those large muscle groups.
As a weight loss exercise, you can burn up to 511 calories an hour for an average 160-pound person, according to the Mayo Clinic. That figure represents a significant amount of calorie burn when you compare it to leisurely biking, which will burn less than 300 calories an hour for the same individual.

Walking

While not as intense as other activities, walking is an effective way to lose weight. Not only is it convenient, but you can easily measure your progress using a pedometer. Being able to quantify how you exercise will help you in the long term by giving you concrete goals. This is what makes walking one of the best weight loss exercises you can do.
According to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, your goal should be 10,000 steps each day. That equates to burning 3,500 calories a week, or 1 pound. You can use a spreadsheet to track your progress so you have a visual reminder of your weight loss goals. In addition, there are less seasonal restrictions to walking versus other types of exercises, allowing you to stick with your weight loss goals year round.