Exercise to Lose Weight - What Really Works

You can increase your weight loss by increasing the amount of exercise that you participate in during the day. This does not mean that you have to join a gym, or run a 5-K every other day. What it does mean is that you need to increase the amount of productive movement that you participate in each day.

Walking is a great form of exercise, with little impact on your joints. You can enhance your health and weight loss further by walking 20 minutes a day at least three days a week. However, you can also increase your movement patterns by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking on your lunch break around the block, march in place while waiting for the copier to print out your work, and walk around the block after you eat breakfast and dinner at home.

To improve your motivation have a friend join you and have a walk and talk date where you can catch up on the local gossip while you exercise. You will find that walking with a friend where you can have a pleasant conversation will help the mile(s) go by faster and with less effort than if you walk alone. If you need more motivation to start a walking program, join a walking club in your hometown. You can often find thee kinds of clubs by going online. Not only will joining a club help motivate you to walk on a regular basis, it will also provide you with moral support.

Other fun forms of exercise include swimming, bicycling, belly dancing, yoga, tai chi, or even fencing. Find a few exercises or sports that you enjoy and mix them up during the week. In order to keep things interesting don't do the same things every day. Have fun and try new sports and activities. Keep your body guessing what you're going to do next.