We all know exercise is essential for overall health, but when you're trying to lose weight it becomes even more important. Where to start?
How about the 10 best exercises for weight loss, which target multiple muscles, rev your metabolism, and torch calories. If they feel hard, remember: Each rep gets you one step closer to your goal weight.
Lunges
There are many variations to the lunge, but the plain jane forward lunge is still very effective for weight loss, as it works multiple muscles at once (think: glutes, quads, and hamstrings) for max calorie burn. Get ready to move those short-shorts to the front of your closet.
Stand tall with feet hip-width apart. Place hands on your hips or hold weights, and take a controlled step forward with your right leg.
Keeping your spine tall, lower your body until your front leg and back leg form a 90-degree angle.
Pause, then bring your right leg home to start.
Now do the other side by stepping forward with your left leg.
Repeat 10 times on each side. Do a total of 3 sets.
CHEYENNE ELLIS
How This Workout Works
Boost your flab-melting power right now as you shape sexy muscles. "To really stoke your engine and help you lose fat faster, this workout ramps up the intensity of strength training with blasts of cardio," says Zen Nguyen, corporate trainer for 24 Hour Fitness gyms, who teamed with the chain's head of fitness,
Ingrid Owen, to create this speedy sculpting routine. You'll torch up to 10 calories a minute while targeting virtually every area of your body. (Our five testers lost an average of 8.2 inches all over!) Simply do these moves in a circuit,
performing the Cross Jack, shown on the following slide, after each toner, three times a week on nonconsecutive days. Repeat the circuit once or twice. Mix these strength-and-sweat sessions with the "Cardio: Easy as 1, 2, 3!" formula for a hot body and a smokin' metabolism.a