I
f you're a woman trying to lose weight and get fit, there's something you should know: It often takes longer for women to lose weight than men. And, if you've had a baby, you may have to factor in even more time. That said, women can do some things to speed up their weight loss.
Weight Loss for Women
For a woman to lose weight, she has to do the same thing a man does -- burn more calories than she eats. That sounds simple, but it takes some work to change your lifestyle and commit to those changes day after day. Before you get started, take some time to learn about the basics of weight loss and what it really takes to see results.
Exercise for Weight Loss
Exercise is one of the most important tools you have for weight loss and setting up a balanced program with cardio and strength training is your first step to reaching your goals. Below you'll find everything you need to set up a balanced program and create effective workouts.
Cardio Exercise
Cardio Exercise
I usually don't have to convince my female clients to do cardio exercise to reach their weight loss goals. They know that cardio can burn fat and calories, but they don't always know how to maximize their workout time.
Common Mistakes:
- Doing too much cardio: Women tend to like cardio more than strength training and sometimes do so much, they risk injury, overtraining, losing muscle and hitting weight loss plateaus.
- Working at a low intensity: Some women have too many workouts in their 'fat-burning zone', or working at a low intensity. However, working at a higher intensity for 1-3 workouts a week can help you burn more calories, which is what you need to lose weight.
- Neglecting other parts of their programs: Many women skip strength training because they're afraid they'll bulk up and they don't think it actually helps them lose weight. However, strength training is key for changing your body composition, which puts you on the road to weight loss.
