7 Tips to Help You Plan Exercise Routines For Weight Loss

Exercise routines are the most consistent way to measure and achieve progress. If we map out our workouts correctly we know what exercises we'll be doing and on what day. This prevents us from always doing our favorite exercises and avoiding doing the exercises we dread.

When we think of exercise routines we instantly think of the muscle building kind. We picture ourselves systematically lifting barbells and dumbbells to increase the size of our arms, legs, pecs, back and abs. We usually don't think of exercise routines for weight loss.

Weight loss is usually only associated with food or some kind of vigorous aerobics exercise like running or bicycling. But losing weight can benefit just as much from a well planned routine as building muscle does.

Here are 7 tips to help you plan your exercise routines for weight loss.

1. Decide on what kind of shape you are in.

If you are older, or are very overweight, or are sporting some kind of injury you need to take these things into account.

Another factor to consider before beginning an exercise regimen is to calculate how long its been since you've done any serious exercising. If it's been twenty years since you've moved off the couch you need to start your weight loss exercises very slowly.

2. Always warm up.

One sure way to injure yourself is to jump right into exercising with too much intensity or with too heavy of weights. Pull a muscle right out of the starting gate and you may never get the gumption to work out again.

Do low-level aerobics like walking or bike riding to warm up your muscles. Then spend a few minutes stretching. The more flexible you become the less likely it will be that you hurt yourself.

3. Improve your nutrition.

Get a good book on nutrition. There are many good books at the library that you can pick up to help you understand your bodies nutritional needs better.

4. Add muscle strengthening exercises to your aerobic exercises.

Studies indicate that increasing your muscle mass, even a small amount, helps you burn fat faster and more efficiently. Building up your muscles improves your metabolism.

You don't have to join a gym and become a card carrying bodybuilder to increase your muscle size. A set of inexpensive dumbbells and body weight exercises will do the trick.

5. Learn proper weight lifting technique to avoid injury.

Improper weightlifting technique is a leading cause of gym injuries. Don't fear lifting weights, they aren't that dangerous if you start out lifting light weights so that you can focus on learning proper form.

A few good books at the library with a lot of pictures and written explanations will help you master proper form in no time.

6. Be positive. Stay motivated.

Your weight loss efforts are doomed from the beginning if you approach it with a negative attitude. Aside from some insurmountable physical disability lack of motivation is the number one reason why people give up on weight loss.

While you're at the library you might as well pick up a book on positive mental attitude if you happen to struggle in that department.

7. Be committed. Don't quit until you see results.

You will never achieve fat loss or fitness success if you don't plan on seeing it through till the end. The old saying, "Quitters never win and winners never quit" is still true today.

Conclusion.

You are virtually assured success if you follow these 7 tips to help you plan your exercise routines for weight loss.

If you count through the tips you'll notice that most of them are concerned with knowledge. True weight loss success starts in the head not in the kitchen or on the gym floor.

Mark A Hanson specializes in fitness and weight loss. Download a FREE Home Fitness Guides at The Basement Gym