You may have heard the old adage “No pain, no gain”, and for good reason. While there is certainly no escaping the pain of physical exercise, you shouldn’t have to suffer through grueling workouts just to lose a few pounds. Fortunately, there are ways to get the most out of your workouts without putting yourself through too much hurt.
Here are 10 best workout plans to help you lose weight fast. Read on to find out more.
Cardio Kickstart
It’s a well-known fact that Cardio Kickstart is the gold standard in short-term fat-loss plans. What is Cardio Kickstart you ask? It is a 30-day workout plan that combines a strenuous exercise with a healthy diet. The plan targets both sides of the body (but mostly the chest and arms) and teaches you how to eat correctly while working out. So not only will you shed the pounds, but you’ll also feel better both physically and mentally.
The plan starts with a five-day introductory phase that gradually increases the intensity of your workouts. After five days you will be exhausted but will feel amazing, so you’ll want to continue on with the plan.
On the sixth day you will get an additional workout, followed by a rest day. This continues for the rest of the month, so you will complete two workouts a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. The plan also includes a 20-minute evening walk to help restore and maintain your energy levels. This means you will walk for two hours a day, which is great for your health.
C25K
If you’re looking for a more gradual way to lose weight, you may want to try the C25K plan. Simply put, it is a marathon training plan for beginners that gradually introduces you to longer runs and builds up your stamina. The plan is divided into five weeks, with a weekend off in between each week. During the week, you will train for three days, followed by a day of rest. So you will complete one full week of training, then take a break, and repeat the process. The result is that by the end of the C25K plan, you will have completed 10 marathons, which is an amazing feat for so early in your marathon training.
The beauty of this plan is that it gradually builds up your stamina so that by the end you are physically prepared for a full marathon. It’s also designed so that you can follow it without any gaps in your schedule, which makes it ideal for those with busy schedules.
The P90X Program
Another great plan for those who want to lose weight quickly is the P90X program. It was designed by Tony Horton, an expert in muscle building and strength training, and it follows a similar concept to Cardio Kickstart. The only difference is that the P90X plan focuses on full-body workouts, incorporating both weight training and cardio activities. This makes it a bit more advanced than Cardio Kickstart, but that is also why it is perfect for those who are striving for fast results.
Like with Cardio Kickstart, the P90X plan starts with a five-day introductory phase that gradually increases the intensity of your workouts. The P90X plan then takes you through a three-week diet phase, followed by a three-week muscle-building phase. This brings you to a total of 10 weeks of training. However, after the three weeks of dieting and establishing a baseline, the P90X program adds an additional week of muscle-building activities.
The P90X plan is a great option for those who want to lose weight quickly and effectively, and it is also great for those who are seeking a challenging weight loss workout. It is highly recommended by professionals because it is effective and has a high success rate.
Incorporating weight training as part of your routine is also important for those who want to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that weight training can increase your body’s insulin sensitivity, making it easier for your body to process sugar (which may even reverse some of the damage caused by diabetes).
Crossfit
Crossfit is one of the most popular workout trends right now, and it is easy to see why. It is a strength and conditioning program that incorporates elements of athletics, gymnastics, and yoga, with the aim of building total-body strength. You will certainly be racking your muscles as you work your way through this plan, but you will also be having fun while you do it. So while this may not be the most gentle of workout plans, you can enjoy the results.
The beauty of this plan is that it can be done anywhere, at any time. There is no set hour that you have to be working out, and you can follow the plan whether you are in the middle of a relaxing day at work or during a family vacation. This makes it easy to fit the plan into your schedule, and it is one of the reasons why it is such a popular choice among fitness enthusiasts.
One of the things that makes Crossfit so effective is that it forces you to complete the exercises as a group, motivating you to push yourself harder during each workout. The heat created by the increasing intensity of your workouts is also an important factor in terms of shortening your recovery time. So by the time you finish the Crossfit plan, you will be raring to go for more.
Hatha Yoga
If you are seeking a more meditative approach to weight loss, you may want to try hatha yoga. It is a form of yoga that incorporates breathing exercises, relaxation, and physical postures (or poses). While it is not known for being the most intense workout plan, it is a fantastic choice for those who want to unwind and destress after a stressful day. It is also a great option for those who want to boost their spirituality while on the journey to better health.
There is no denying that yoga is effective for weight loss, and it has a long history of being used for that purpose (in fact, it was originally developed to strengthen the body and improve flexibility). You’ll need to practice regularly to see the results, but it is an ideal choice for those who want to reduce their waistlines comfortably and effortlessly.
HIIT
The last option on our list is HIIT, or high-intensity interval training. It is a form of interval training that was designed to improve both cardio and muscular endurance. In many ways, it is similar to the P90X plan, but it is shorter in duration and more intense. If you are looking for a no-nonsense boot camp-style workout, then HIIT is a plan you may want to try.