When most people think of losing weight, they generally think of cardiovascular activities such as walking, running, biking and aerobics. However, if you aren’t performing strength building exercises, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to kick your weight loss into overdrive.
Your body uses more energy (meaning more calories) to sustain muscle than it does fat. So, the more you can increase your muscle mass, the more weight you’ll lose even when you’re not actively engaged in physical activities.
The best part is that you don’t have to buy a lot of expensive weights to get the results you desire. You can get a great physique using your own bodyweight for resistance. Here are some exercises you can perform weight-free that will help you achieve weight loss success at a much faster pace:
The Plank
This one exercise works almost every muscle in your body. It takes upper, middle and lower body strength to keep your form. To perform it, lie on your belly and then lift is so that you’re resting your entire body weight on your forearms while keeping your back and legs straight as a board. Try to keep the position for as long as you can, working to increase the time as you become more fit.
Push-ups
If you’re looking for upper body strength and muscle building, then push-ups should definitely be in your workout routine. You can modify your form to meet your fitness level. For instance, you can do them on your knees versus your toes to make them easier or perform them on an incline to make them harder.
Squats
No move will work your legs better than the squat. The key, however, is to use proper form. Don’t let your knees extend beyond your toes when you squat, and keep your back straight. Doing so will help you isolate the leg muscles you want to work and help you remain injury-free.
Do these three exercises and you’ll soon see the positive impact it has on your weight-loss. It’s time to get the results you not only want, but deserve.