What is the best exercise?

[smileybrit]

Hello everyone,

I am currently trying to lose weight and tone so I can be a reasonble weight in the summer. I was wondering is there a particular workout/exercise that can achieve the best results? I am doing 40 mins in the gym and 40 mins swimming at the moment.

[USAF-Larry]

There is no "best" exercise, every body is different and has different needs. The important thing is to change it up. If you do weights & stationary bike one day, do walking or swimming the next so that your body does not become accustomed to the routine and fail to stress your body.  Keep on stepping!

[SunsetRunner]

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@smileybrit wrote:

Hello everyone,

I am currently trying to lose weight and tone so I can be a reasonble weight in the summer. I was wondering is there a particular workout/exercise that can achieve the best results? I am doing 40 mins in the gym and 40 mins swimming at the moment.

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Walking 2 hours minimum daily is the best excercise if you want to burn more fat calories.   

[smileybrit]

Thank you all for your posts. Yes, i'm all for walking! it's much easier than the gym.  

[WendyB]

You need to like what you do so you stick with it. But you do need Cardio and Strength training as well.

[kaizen66]

I just started taking a Krav Maga (a form of martial arts) last week... I've only had 2 classes but it has whipped my both times. It is very physical and very intense. I plan to take 2 per week.

[SunsetRunner]

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@smileybrit wrote:

Thank you all for your posts. Yes, i'm all for walking! it's much easier than the gym.  

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I walk when I get tired of the gym.    Gym gets boring at time.   

[SunsetRunner]

What you're doing sounds pretty good. 

I used to do all my training in the gym, but now that I have tried the classes at my gym, I'd have to say those are great fun, and fantastic for cardio, toning, sculpting and you are doing it with a whole class, many of which are very fit and motivate you to push yourself. 

I go 4 -5 days a week and balance gym and classes and I feel like I'm challenging myself physically much more than when I was just pushing weights and using the cardio machines. And it's also less boring. 

I also find that I don't feel like I need to spend so much time in the gym, on my class days, after my hour workout I'm done, and I'm satisfied with that. 

So I highly recommend classes. They are not easy I guarantee that. 

I need to try swimming, but my swimming skill level is not that good. I can swim but if I fell off a boat I wouldn't make it to shore! 

[betpchem]

The best exercise is the one you will keep doing. I would echo the people who said switch it up. Do different things - take classes, take walks. Anything that gets you up and moving.

[vrDrew]

There really is no single *perfect* exercise. Instead you should choose a variety of different activities that fit you: Your goals; the amount of time you can devote; the resources you have; and your current physical condition.

As others have pointed out, simply adding a certian amount of walking (gentle to vigorous) on a regular basis will improve your fitness, and increase the number of calories you burn. However, if you find that all the fresh air and exercise you get from walking improves your appetite to the point you end up eating more - you probably aren't going to lose that much weight.

At the very least you should combine exercise and diet to meet your goals.

Looking a little deeper at exercise physiology, you may also want to consider combining a variety of different activities in your exercise regimen. Most athletes, even those involved in non-strength sports, find that adding a certain amount of resistance/strength training highly beneficial. Building just a little muscle tissue can help speed your metabolism; making weight loss easier. It also helps improve tone and overall appearance, as well as make you more resistant to injury and strain. Resistance training doesn't have to involve complicated machines or bulky weight sets. Simply adding puh-ups; crunches; and knee bends ta couple of times a week will help.

The *best* exercise (either a single activitiy, or a complex series) is the one that you can follow through with and lets you achieve your goals. An activity you dislike; or find boring ; is something you are going to struggle to stick with. If you've started out walking; and find you like it as an activity - congratulations. You've taken the most important step of all. Keep with it; and hopefully you will start to see some positive results in a few weeks. If you do, you may very well decide to challenge yourself by pushing your body a little further, a little faster, or to include some other activities into your new active lifestyle.

Best wishes and good luck.

[Dominique]

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@betpchem wrote:

The best exercise is the one you will keep doing. I would echo the people who said switch it up.

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I definitely agree with the first part. As to the need for "switching it up", I think it depends on people’s natural inclination. Personally, I don’t mind doing the same things over and over again. Same with eating, btw. For me, there’s something reassuring about having a routine that doesn’t change much, especially if I know it’s working.

[Dominique]

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@smileybrit wrote:

Yes, i'm all for walking!  

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Walking is my "staple exercise". In fact, I don’t even view it as exercise. It’s just like taking a shower in the morning, part of your daily hygiene. I’m lucky in that I can walk year-round outdoors in beautiful surroundings (lakes, forest):

I couldn’t possibly spend an hour on a treadmill or an elliptical.

[Mcore · Accepted solution]

@smileybrit You should be dancing, yeah!  This is an excellent workout and it will make you lose weight and have lots of fun. Try it!

[smileybrit]

Thank you fo the suggestion. I have not tried classes before so I will look into it and try a few. You must try swimming there is something therapeutic when being in the water and you dont feel like you are exercising at all. I learnt to swim as an adult and I would say I am not the most fastest of swimmers. However, you can look up on the internet how to improve your technique and since I have been going regularly, my swimming has improved greatly. Give it a try!

[smileybrit]

Thank you for the suggestion. I have never done classes before so I will look into it and try a few. You must try swimming as there is something therapeutic about being in water. I am not the most fastest of swimmers however, since I have been going regularly, my swimming has improved. There are also tips on the internet how you can improve your technique if you need it. Give it a try.

[Maggiedoll]

The absolute best exercise is the one that you do.  Whatever it is, if you do it, keep doing it, don't hate it, don't want to stop doing it..  that's the best exercise for you. 

[Mcore]

Well put @Maggiedoll!  Just keep on moving and enjoy what you are doing.

[robguitar]

I've been lifting weights, running, and walking. I think walking and swimming are probably the best low impact forms of excercise.

[DeeA2Z]

The best exercise is the exercise you enjoy doing.  It took me a long time to find something I love (well, I actually found 4 things, so I'm lucky).  When you do find something you enjoy, put those exercise times on your calendar/phone/daytimer/sticky note on your bathroom mirror.  Make an appointment with yourself and then KEEP it!  You are worth it!  Hey, I never in a million years thought I'd give up a lunch with the girls for my Zumba class, but exercise is medicine for a better me.  Good luck!  And have fun!!!

[aps10]

This forum kind of drives me nuts at times.....yes there is a best exercise to lose weight and "tone".  Tone by the way, simply means to lose adipose tissue....fat.  Research has been very clear that high intensity resistance training will ellicit the greatest results.  High intensity refers to mutli-joint movements, like lunges, squats, dead lifts, burpees, etc and can include proticals like a Tabata.  Rest intervals should be short.  Research has shown that this type of training will result in the EPOC effect (Excessive Post Oxygen Energy Consumption).  Science has had some difficulty replicating the Epoc effect, but any qualified, experienced trainer, or highly trained athlete knows it exists.