If you are singing the blues because you can't lose weight, it may be time to check out your local gym. The range and variety of calorie-burning options rival the scale and scope of musical genres. Whether you love the oldies like free weights and step, or you are more inclined to up-tempo hits like indoor cycling and kick-boxing, the gym offers something for everyone.
Heavy Metal
When it comes to shedding pounds, weight training tops the charts. Building muscle is the fastest way to speed up your metabolism and melt away fat while shoring up bone mineral density. Adding music to the mix will enhance the effects. Researchers found that working out to upbeat music motivates exercisers to work harder, according to a report in the September 2010 issue of the American Council of Exercise "Certified News." Whether you plug in your iPod and hit the free weights or join others for a motivating kettlebell or Body Pump class, music can be the driving force behind your weight training workout.
Hip-Hop and Latin
If you can't sit still when you hear a beat, try dance-based group exercise classes like hip-hop or Zumba. Sweating it out in gym clothes and sneakers, you will have more fun than on Saturday night at the club, and you don't need a dance partner. Zumba Dallas reports beginners can expect to burn around 350 calories per class, while more accomplished Zumbies can burn up to 750. That's a pound lost for every 10 classes for a beginner and a pound for every five classes for a pro.
Techno
Technology has pervaded every aspect of our lives, and gym equipment is no exception. Ride the stationary bike while doing a virtual Tour de France, test your skateboarding skills using the Wii game console or program your treadmill to run wind sprints. Get your movie fix with Cardio Cinema, catch the headlines on the elliptical trainer, or keep up with March Madness on the stair climber. Whatever your choice, keep the intensity high for maximum weight loss and mix it up for variety to avoid a weight-loss plateau.
New Age
Slowing down your mind while taking your muscles and joints to new lengths will combat daily stress and the fat-storing hormones it stimulates. Yoga, Pilate's, tai chi or fusion classes that incorporate elements of them all will slow-dance you to greater body awareness and serenity. A 2009 study conducted by Dr. Alan Kristal and colleagues found that regular yoga practice promotes mindful eating, resulting in less weight gain in normal-weight people and weight loss in overweight folks. Apparently, tuning into your inner frequency makes you more inclined to take better care of yourself.
Member Comments