Whether you’ve been working out for years or just recently started to break a sweat in accordance with a new year’s resolution, it’s a well-known fact that getting your body moving is one of the best ways to feel great in your skin and achieve weight loss in a healthy and sustainable manner. There are a wide variety of exercise forms you could try but finding one you and enjoy and can stick to is going to be the easiest way to make fitness a regular part of your life.
That being said, there are some exercise routines that are more effective for seeing results than others and creating a balanced regimen may make it easier to see the results you’re after. We checked in with Tonal Coach Kendall Wood to get a comprehensive guide as to the best forms of exercise to integrate into your routine this year for your best chance at achieving sustainable weight loss while also feeling great in your body.
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Strength Training & HIIT
Hitting the perfect balance between cardio and strength training is the ultimate secret to success when it comes to exercise and healthy weight loss. Strength training will help to build up your muscles and naturally increase your metabolism, and cardio will help to enhance calorie burn which will in turn allow you to achieve your goals.
Integrating these two forms of exercise together into your workout routine in the new year will allow for healthy weight loss while also improving your overall wellness in the long term. “Adherence is the key to being successful in your fitness goals, including weight loss. With that, it’s important that you enjoy your exercise routine,” says Wood. “I recommend cross-training for clients with weight-loss goals.”
Strength training may initially seem intimidating, but contrary to popular belief, picking up the weights won’t make you bulky, and will instead allow for a toned figure and even a more effective metabolism. “Strength training is essential to building a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle,” says Wood.
“In addition to weight lifting, high-intensity interval training will burn more calories in less time than a steady-state cardio session,” she adds. Striking a balance between these two forms of exercise will help to lean out your frame while also building up the muscle beneath so you can avoid a ‘skinny’ look, and instead appear strong.
Wood suggests trying a workout plan such as Tonal if you struggle with finding a routine you can stick to as it outlines exactly what needs to be done each week in terms of strength training, cardio, and even rest days. “Tonal makes it so easy to do all three of these essentials with programs that incorporate strength training, HIIT and recovery days, all with the help of expert trainers,” Wood says. “Try pairing three moderate to heavy strength training sessions per week with two fast-paced, light-weight workouts that incorporate plyometrics for a cardio boost.”
Creating a plan that will both build muscle and burn fat is ideal for not only weight loss, but maintenance as well, making it a routine which can be sustained for the long term to fit a number of goals.
At the end of the day, the saying “variety is the spice of life” stands true when it comes down to your fitness journey as well. Switching up your workouts to keep you on your toes is a great way to stick to your plan, and Wood notes that you’ll see the best results when combining a weight training and HIIT routine with a balanced diet and consistency.
“I encourage clients to get started and stick to their daily goals. Give yourself time to become immersed in your journey, and you will see results in no time,” she says. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss, integrating strength training and a cardio of your choice into your day-to-day routine will ultimately net the best results without wasting hours in the gym each week.
