subject: Proper Exercise Is The Quickest Way To Burn Fat [print this page] Is there a proper way to exercise? The truth is that the way you exercise has a lot to do with your goals. For example, if you are looking for the quickest way to burn fat, slow cardio workouts will never help you achieve your target.
What is Wrong with Cardio?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with cardiovascular exercise. In fact, it has many benefits that are essential for the body. The problem is that it isnt an ideal method with which to encourage the body to burn fat.
You see, when you engage in a cardio workout, your body does, in fact, burn fat during the workout. But afterwards, chemicals in the brain tell the body to burn carbohydrates instead. You also have to constantly change around your workout so as not to develop a tolerance to a particular routine. Once you do, you will see much less dramatic results than you did during your first few weeks of a particular cardio exercise.
What about Weight Lifting?
Also called resistance training, weight lifting works the opposite way that cardio does. While you are doing this exercise, you are burning carbohydrates. During the rest of the day, your body is keyed to burn fat and to build muscle.
Sounds easy, doesnt it? It is and it isnt. One the one hand, it is great to have your body burning fat even when you arent in the gym. On the other hand, you have to engage that cardio system if you want a healthy heart. So, what is the ideal solution? A combination.
Combine Cardio and Resistance Training
There are a number of good combination workout programs that you can try. You are looking for a system that has you in and out of the gym in about 30-40 minutes, keeps you moving constantly to keep that heart rate elevated, and helps you build muscle while you are doing it.
Now, here is one of the best aspects of this kind of exercise. You dont have to get to the gym every day. I know that finding the time to drive to my gym, workout, shower and drive home takes me an hour and the gym is pretty close to my house.
If your gym is more than a few minutes away it just adds time to the routine, and if there is one thing none of us have enough of its time. Getting to the gym 4-5 times a week is plenty when you are exercising correctly.
What Does a Workout Look Like?
You start out with a short warm up of about 5 minutes of cardio activity; the treadmill is a perfect tool for this. Then you segue into some high intensity resistance training using free weights. Between sets of weights, you keep that heart rate elevated with sprints, step-ups or lunges. Finish your resistance training and cool off for a few minutes with some more cardio and stretching. Done!
Now, whether you choose to focus on one area of the body at a time with your resistance training or you opt to touch on the whole body lightly is up to you. Just make sure you vary your workout several times a week to maintain your fat loss and your interest.
