Paige Harris Want to learn how to burn fat and build muscle in the fastest, most efficient way possible? Does this sound too good to be true? Read on to find out.
A quick search on Google or on Instagram for “best exercises” brings up hundreds of thousands of results. High intensity interval training circuits. Banded crab walks. Templates for runs. Going backwards on a treadmill. Jump circuits that can be done in the comfort of your living room. Bodybuilder split lifting routines that require a gym — you name it, it’s there.
How are you, a beginner, supposed to sort out which of these routines is the best? Which routines will help you burn fat and build muscle? Which of these routines will give you the best results?
Spoiler Alert: It all depends on you.
Even though everyone seems to want to find an answer to this question, it doesn’t have a ‘true’ answer. Instead of looking online for the best new exercise, I think it’s more important to look at your own life.
What type of exercise do you like to do?
Whatever that is — be it weightlifting, marathon training, crazy intense boot-camp style classes or a slow hot yoga flow — that is the best way for you to lose fat and build muscle. (Alongside a proper diet, of course!)
But Paige, I can hear you saying. I won’t burn as many calories lifting weights as I would if I just ran on the treadmill for the same amount of time. I have to do cardio or I’ll get bulky.
I’ve been lifting weights pretty consistently for almost two years now. And I’ve done minimal to no cardio whatsoever. (Unless high rep squats count as cardio, which I would argue that they do!) Do I look bulky to you?
However, that doesn’t mean that you have to lift weights to get in shape. It’s definitely the way I like to exercise. But that doesn’t mean that you have to! Instead, think about the following factors in your life to try and find a good starting point:
Factors to Consider
Where will you be working out? Most of us — myself included — don’t have large enough living spaces to fit a full-fledged gym inside our homes. If you can afford a gym membership and can get yourself there without added stress, lifting weights could be a good choice for you. But if you know that you’ll only be able to work out at home or outside, be sure to take that into consideration when starting up a routine as well!
What do you do for a living? If you work a desk job like I do, lifting weights and being a bit sore sometimes isn’t too big a deal. But if you’re a construction worker, for example, you want to be sure that your workouts don’t leave you unable to perform your job. Be sure to choose an exercise routine that allows you enough time to recover properly.
What are your goals? It’s important to choose an exercise plan that resonates with your goals. For example, if you dream of one day running a marathon, you need to build up your cardiovascular endurance with your exercise regimen. In that case, lifting weights and doing no cardio would not help you get any closer to that goal. Conversely, if you have the goal of being able to squat twice your body weight, you shouldn’t burn your legs out with super long runs 5 days a week. Sit down, figure out your goals (both short- and long-term) and get to getting them!
What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Guess what: You don’t have to go to a bootcamp class and run your body into the ground to make progress if that’s not what you enjoy. You also don’t have to go and sit through yoga meditations if the thought of them makes you outwardly groan. Through a ton of trial and error, I’ve discovered that I really like lifting heavy weights with some occasional high-intensity work thrown in to mix things up when I’m feeling stressed. I’ve also learned that I enjoy working out alone instead of in a class setting, and that I don’t need someone screaming in my ear to push myself harder: I’m perfectly happy doing that myself. But if you know that you won’t hold yourself accountable right away, look into joining a class or hiring a personal trainer to get you started! 😉
No matter what form of exercise you decide to start, however, remember to start slow. If you decide to start lifting weights, try using weights that are challenging but not crushing, and only perform a maximum of 3 lifts on your first day.
How to Get Started
I know that sounds like not a lot, but trust me, your body will thank you for holding back. When you’re starting at ground zero, any movement is more than you were doing the day before. Your body will notice this and adapt accordingly — and remember, slow and steady wins the race. It’s consistency, not daily intensity, that will bring you the best results!
If you want to start seeing real results, head to the Work With Me page and set up a free 15 minute consultation. Together, we’ll create the perfect plan for you!
