Do you ever look at celebrities and wonder how they stay in such good shape? You know that most of them have personal trainers and that it’s their job to stay trim, but you also feel like you could benefit from some helpful tips and tricks to get your weight loss journey started or to keep yourself motivated when you don’t want to go to the gym. Well, we have some good news for you.
We’ve put together some of the best tips for losing weight and staying healthy from the people who keep Hollywood’s hottest stars looking and feeling amazing.
Forget About Crunches
If you’ve been killing yourself with crunches to get killer abs, you’ve been doing it all wrong. Instead of doing hundreds of crunches, do exercises that engage your whole core and other muscles. Famed star trainer Jackie Warner recommends squats, pull-ups, and pushups for rock-hard abs.
Add Strength Training to Cardio
Yes, cardio will burn more calories than weightlifting. However, lifting weights builds muscles, and muscles burn more calories than fat. Thus, you can increase your basal metabolic rate so that you burn more calories throughout the day, even when you’re not working out.
Monitor Your Heart Rate
Want to burn more calories while you’re working on your strength training? Wear a heart rate monitor so that you can get up and keep moving whenever your heart rate starts to dip below your target zone.
Cut Down Rest Time Between Sets
When you’re working on strength or doing interval training, cut down your rest time, especially at the beginnings of your workouts and when you’re working with lighter weights. Aim to rest for about 20 to 30 seconds between lighter sets and at the beginning of your workouts. Then you can extend that to between 40 and 60 seconds as you start to get more fatigued and the weight gets heavier.
Workout in the Morning
Working out in the morning gives your metabolism a boost that lasts all day. Plus, you won’t find excuses not to go exercise when you get home from work at the end of the day.
Do Longer Cardio Sessions
If you really want your cardio to work for you, don’t just do 15-20 minutes. It can take your body between 30 and 40 minutes to start metabolizing stored fat, so keep at it for at least 40 minutes two to three times a week to lose weight faster.
Your Clothes Are a Better Indicator Than the Scale
Obsessing over the scale won’t get you anywhere. Plus, as you begin building muscle, the number on the scale may stop decreasing. In fact, it may even increase. Instead of worrying about this, look at the way your clothes fit for a better progress indicator.
Listen to Music Instead of Watching TV on the Treadmill
When you’re doing cardio, you might be tempted to watch TV to pass the time, but this will actually result in a less intense workout as you get absorbed in the show or movie you’re watching. Instead, listen to some music that’ll get your heart going and your pace up.
There you go – a few great tips to help you kick your weight loss into gear from people who know how to get results.