Are Aerobics a Good Way to Lose Weight?

Are Aerobics a Good Way to Lose Weight?
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The best way to lose weight is to get your body moving. Aerobics are an exercise that fits the bill. You can have fun and reduce stress while working on thinner thighs. Combine your aerobic exercise with a healthy diet, and you will be on the road to near-certain weight loss. Consult your doctor before beginning any new diet or exercise regimen.

Calories Burned

Aerobics are an excellent way to lose weight, because it is a high-energy activity that uses all of the major muscle groups in the body. A 150-pound person who does aerobics for one hour will burn more than 400 calories. Bump up the intensity by doing high-impact aerobics, and you will burn close to 500 calories per hour, the ProHealth website calculates. Do this every day, and you will burn from 2,800 to 3,500 calories every week --- about a pound of excess weight.

Muscle

When you do aerobics, you are not only burning calories but are building muscle. Lean muscle mass helps your body's metabolism to hum along efficiently, burning more calories in the long run. Aerobic exercise can tone calves, thighs and arm muscles. Many aerobic exercise programs also incorporate core exercises that target your midsection. With aerobic exercise, not only do you burn calories, but you firm up your muscles, giving you an even leaner appearance.

Psychological Effects

Make a habit of doing aerobic exercise on a regular basis, and you'll likely experience a better mood along with thinner thighs. With the more positive outlook that can accompany aerobic exercise, you might feel more motivation to eat healthily, particularly since you are already engaging in a healthy weight-loss activity. Aerobic exercise creates a positive cycle in which you feel good, exercise, feel good and eat right. Aerobic exercise might increase your creativity, too: A study published in "Creativity Research Journal" found that exercise gives individuals a boost of increased creative thinking.

Diet

If you only have a few pounds to lose and already eat a healthy diet that is fairly low in calories, you may be able to lose the weight you want without modifying your diet. If you want to lose more than 5 pounds, however, you'll get quicker results if you also cut some calories from your daily menu. Cutting 500 calories a day will result in an approximate weight loss of 1 lb. per week. Add in the calories you will burn doing aerobics, and you'll be well on the road to fitting into your skinny jeans.

References

Article reviewed by Will McCahill Last updated on: Jan 27, 2011

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