Controlling your weight is an effective way to improve your health and reduce your risk of chronic disease. By setting a weight-loss goal of 20 lbs., you give yourself a clear focus and means by which to gauge your success. Cardio workouts will provide the highest calorie burn, making them the best type of exercise program to follow. Your weight loss goal will require a commitment to regular exercise.
Guidelines
Harnessing your motivation will help your reach your goal. In order to support your success, you should begin by setting milestones which are realistic for you to reach. MayoClinic.com recommends a weight loss goal of 1 to 2 lbs. per week. Part of the rationale is that it is obtainable without requiring a lot of self-sacrifice. While losing 20 lbs. is admirable, you probably don't want to be in a position where you must set this goal again. Your goal, therefore, should be long-term weight loss.
Choosing a Workout
The best workout will provide a high calorie burn by engaging more muscles. The more muscle you work, the more calories you will burn in a given period of time. Intense activity accomplishes this purpose. Your workout should include an activity you enjoy. Running at 6 mph, for example, will burn 704 calories an hour for a 155-lb. person, according to NutriStrategy. Vigorous cycling on an exercise bike has a similar calorie burn at 739 calories per hour. In-line skating burns 844 calories per hour.
Workout Schedule
You will need to commit to working out five to six days a week once you have chosen your exercise, recommends the American Council on Exercise. Aim for 45-minute sessions and gradually work your way up to 60 minutes. A 2010 study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women were most successful at long-term weight loss when they exercised 60 minutes a day most days of the week. Bear in mind that you can split your activity throughout your day if a 60-minute block of time is not convenient.
Staying on Track
With this exercise plan, you should approach your goal at about 10 to 20 weeks. There are a few things you can do to keep you on track. Accountability, for example, is a powerful motivator. A 2010 study by the Kaiser Permanente, Center for Health Research in Oregon found that using interactive websites helped participants maintain long-term weight loss. Another way to stick with your 20-lb. weight loss goal is to weigh in daily. A 2005 study by the University of Minnesota concluded that daily weigh-ins helped participants avoid weight gain. By tracking your progress, you can help ensure that you meet your fitness goal.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Weight Loss: 6 Strategies for Success
- NutriStrategy: Calories Burned During Exercise, Activities, Sports and Work
- American Council on Exercise: Three Things Every Exercise Program Should Have
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Physical Activity and Weight Gain Prevention; L. I-Min et al; March 2010
- "Journal for Medical Internet Research"; Associations of Internet Website Use With Weight Change in a Long-term Weight Loss Maintenance Program; K. Funk, et al.; July 2010
- "Annals of Behavioral Medicine"; Self-weighing in weight gain prevention and weight loss trials; J. Linde, et al.; December 2005
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