In a recent study headed by faculty at Duke University Medical Center, cardiovascular exercise was shown to burn the most calories and trumps strength training for weight loss. Participants in the study were assigned to one of three groups: a cardio group, a weightlifting group, or a cardio and weightlifting group that worked out twice as long as everyone else.
They found that the cardio group, who mainly worked out on treadmills or elliptical machines, lost an equal amount of weight and fat as the cardio-plus-weights group, despite the shorter workout time. The weights-only group lost the least amount of weight.
For serious calorie incineration, pump up your cardio routine with interval training. Do this by exercising at a moderate rate for a few minutes, going at full-steam for a shorter interval and then returning to the moderate rate to recover before repeating the cycle.
One study showed that men who cycled gently on a stationary bike for four minutes, sprint-cycled for 30 seconds and repeated for five intervals at each intensity burned 200 more calories than usual in the 24 hours after their training session.
You can do interval training on a bike, elliptical machine, Stairmaster or other cardio equipment, or you can simply alternate walking or jogging intervals with running or sprinting ones.
Even though weights, push-ups and chin-ups won't put you on the fast track to weight loss, strength training is still important for weight management. When you build muscle, you effectively increase your metabolic rate because bigger muscles burn more calories, even as you sleep.
Everyone naturally loses muscle mass with age, and this is a big part of the metabolism slowdown that comes with middle age. With regular strength training, you can help perk up a sluggish metabolism and prevent weight gain.
Eating for Weight Loss
Although exercise is a key component in any weight-loss strategy, it can only take you so far. You can usually knock far more calories out of your day by reducing food intake than by working them off with a moderate exercise routine. Cutting 500 to 1,000 calories from your diet will make you lose one to two pounds per week; use exercise to boost results and promote good health.
If counting calories leaves you frustrated, focus instead on eating lean, whole foods. By filling up on fresh fruits, salad veggies, tofu, egg whites and whole-grain bread and crackers, you won't have room left for high-calorie fare that leads to calorie overload.
Nina Kate is a certified fitness nutrition specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She also studied journalism at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and has contributed to numerous major publications as a freelance writer. Nina thrives on sharing nutrition and fitness knowledge to help readers lead healthy, active lives. Visit her wellness blog at BodyFlourish.com.