The Best Workout for Fast Weight Loss

The Best Workout for Fast Weight Loss
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You want to lose weight with all deliberate speed. You know that this will take more than just eating right and drinking enough water. You're going to need something else: the best workout for fast weight loss. It is important to remember that there is no magic bullet in your own personal battle of the bulge. Further, you should always consult a physician before starting any weight-loss or exercise program.

Disadvantages of Fast Weight Loss

Donald Hensrud, M.D., writing for the Mayo Clinic's website, cautions against the allure of losing weight fast. The types of exercise and diet regimens required for rapid weight loss are simply not sustainable in a long-term way for most people. Further, rapid weight loss generally involves the loss of water weight and even lean muscle tissue -- not the fat that you so badly want to burn off. Hensrud recommends close medical supervision if you're trying to lose weight fast.

One-day Weight Loss

You may want to lose some weight the day before an event to look your best. This isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. While not a strategy for weight-loss in a long-term manner, you can lose weight in a single day. The weight loss will be in the form of water, and the benefits will largely be aesthetic. Drink lots of water while alternating one minute of intense cardio with full-body strength exercises. This intense workout, done over 45 minutes, will have you looking your best the next day.

Timing

Timing makes a difference when you're looking for fast weight loss. Working out in the morning is best, according to Josh Bryant, contributing writer for BodyBuilding.com. Getting your cardio workout done before you eat breakfast optimizes your workout. It is easier to burn off fat in the morning, because the levels of glucose in your bloodstream are lower. Workouts over 60 minutes should be avoided, with 45 minutes standing as a golden mean for weight loss.

Workout Routines

Losing weight involves burning off more calories than you consume. A pound of fat contains about 3500 calories. Losing 1 lb. of fat every week means burning 500 calories a day over what you consume. You should combine both cardiovascular workouts and muscle-building workouts for optimum results. Your cardio workout should raise your heart rate to a target area. You can determine this target area by subtracting your age and resting heart rate from 220 and multiplying the result by any number between .6 and .7. Weight training should be done at least twice a week, though three or four times a week is better.

References

Article reviewed by Leah Ann Crussell Last updated on: Mar 4, 2011

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