What Exercises Are Best To Help Me Achieve My Weight Loss Goal?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reports that the best way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight includes regular physical activity, healthy eating, and balancing the number of calories you eat and drink with the calories your body uses. There are many different types of exercises that you can do to reach your weight loss goal; choosing activities that you enjoy will increase your chances of creating healthy exercise habits.

Enjoyable Activities

Dr. Steven Aldana, professor of exercise science at Brigham Young University, finds that people who choose physical activities they enjoy are more likely to make them a regular part of their life. Experimenting with different exercises and activities will help you find something that works for you. Dr. Aldana also states that the actual activity doesn't matter as much as your consistency in doing it.

Walking

A 2003 report published in the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine" found that walking was the most frequently reported activity in adults who met the national physical activity requirements. Walking is a good way increase the amount of calories you burn and is accessible to everyone. The Weight-Control Information Network, a division of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, recommends wearing comfortable shoes, walking in a safe place and aiming for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.

Resistance Training

The American College of Sports Medicine, or ACSM, recommends that resistance training be included in any exercise training program. Resistance training, or strength training, can help improve metabolism and maintain or increase lean body mass while aiding in loss of fat mass. The ACSM recommends exercising major muscle groups two to three times per week and selecting resistance exercises based on equipment availability and individual preference.

Other Activities

The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport suggest doing regular, every-day activities such as walking the dog and taking the stairs more often to help increase physical activity levels. Also, activities such as gardening, dancing, in-line skating, playing golf and other sports can increase caloric burn and aid in weight loss. Increasing the amount of physical activity in your life, along with a regular exercise program and healthy eating, can help you reach your weight loss goal.