Many of us who naturally struggle with weight problems seek the most direct way to burn excess fat and hope to avoid having to do anything with a fat burning exercise routine. There are many fat loss programs that make the case for the ability of their programs to help you lose weight without having to do any fat burning exercises.

The truth of the matter is that if you are adamant about fat loss, an exercise regimen is essential to your weight loss success. There are two ways fat burning exercises can help you shed those unwanted pounds:

1) A fat burning exercise regimen will make the muscles in your body work harder.

2) Exercise helps build muscle mass or tissue, this increases the metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories our body uses while it is in a state of rest. This occurs because muscles are naturally more active in the metabolic process than body fat.

So, not only are you burning calories when you engage in any type of fat burning exercise, but your body continues to melt the extra calories even after you complete your workout.

There are three types of exercises you can participate in: flexibility, aerobic, and anaerobic. You will get the best results by combining all three in your training program.

flexibility exercises

Flexibility can be described as stretching and range of motion training. This type of exercise is necessary to help you warm up and prepare your body for more intense fat-burning exercises. Tai chi, Pilates, and yoga are all great flexibility programs to add to your regimen.

aerobic exercise

If you want to start burning fat right away, aerobic training is by far the best activity. Aerobic exercise (the word aerobic means “with oxygen”) describes fat-burning exercise that requires oxygen to circulate to the muscles, over a prolonged period, through the lungs and blood supply.

Any fat burning exercise such as jogging, swimming, walking, biking, skipping, soccer, tennis, and rollerblading should be sustained for a period of time rather than short bursts of energy. Aerobic exercise is often referred to as “cardio” training; This type of exercise actually strengthens the cardiac (cardiovascular) and pulmonary (respiratory) systems, making them work more efficiently.

Aerobic exercise not only helps control weight, but also improves stamina, strengthens bones, sleeps better, and reduces depression, stress, and anxiety.

anaerobic exercise

This is the best type of fat burning exercise to improve the body’s ability to lose calories in the long term. Anaerobic, which means “without oxygen,” describes exercise programs that instead rely on short bursts of energy. This source of energy, glycogen and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are stored in the muscles.

Weight training, using weight machines, and resistance band workouts are anaerobic routines and are the most efficient type of fat-burning exercise for improving muscle mass and overall strength. In order to increase the strength and size of the muscles it is necessary to overload the muscles through the repetitive use of weights or resistance training. The increase in muscle actually stimulates the burning of more calories (fat).

Optimal fat burning training includes all three types of exercise, a flexibility regimen to warm up the body, and aerobic and anaerobic exercises to burn fat and lose weight. I strongly suggest that you consider the knowledge of a fitness trainer for advice on structuring your exercise regimen.

Also, remember that there are many great e-books, manuals, and DVD programs that can help you put together a workout that’s right for you.

As with any exercise regimen or nutritional strategy, check with your health care professional before you begin, and once you’re underway, don’t overdo it. Armed with the right information, patience, and some determination, your fat burning exercise program will turn your body into an efficient fat burning machine.