How to Exercise to Lose Weight & Inches

A major benefit of exercise is to build lean muscle that will give your body a slimmer appearance. An effective workout routine for losing weight and inches includes high-impact cardio exercise (such as running on a treadmill or using an elliptical machine) and resistance training. Learning how to incorporate new exercises or develop a new workout routine can be challenging, but a basic routine will help you get started on your weight loss goals.

Things You'll Need

• Treadmill

Instructions

Exercise to Lose Weight and Inches

1. Resistance training that requires you to use your own body weight provides you with strength training and cardio activity. This type of activity increases your overall calorie-burning potential.The more calories you burn the more weight you lose. Start off your resistance training routine with push-ups. Push-ups are an exercise designed to build strength in multiple muscle groups, including the chest, shoulders and arms. To do a normal push-up, lie face-down on the floor with your hands shoulder-width apart. Tuck your toes underneath your feet and press them flat against the floor to help you balance. From this position, straighten your arms to lift your torso off the ground, using your chest muscles primarily to support your body weight. Performing four sets of 10 repetitions of this exercise should get your muscles conditioned to burn more calories.

2. Another resistance training exercise you can use to help you lose weight is crunches. To perform a crunch, lie flat on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. From this position, tighten your abdominal muscles and lift your shoulders as far as you can toward the ceiling. Place your hands behind your head to help support your neck. Contract your abdominal muscles as you lift your shoulders. Performing a set of 35 crunches will improve muscle strength and definition.

3. Immediately after strength training, begin your cardio workout. If you're using a treadmill, try to start off by running 30 to 45 minutes. Program your treadmill for different speeds in 15-minute increments--for example, 15 minutes at 4 mph followed by 15 minutes at 2 mph. This type of exercise helps to level your heart rate and test your endurance. Some treadmill machines featured pre-programmed cardiovascular workout routines as well as endurance workout routines.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program.

References

• HealthCentral.com: How to Lose Inches and Trim Your Waistline