Everyone knows that combining exercise with diet is a very important part to losing weight. Most everyone is also confused over what type of exercise is the best fat loss exercise. To get the best results you need to know what is the best exercise for fat loss.

Many experts will tell you that cardio or aerobic exercise is the best type of exercise. So you listen and you jump on the treadmill. You jog away for 30 - 60 minutes and you lose a little weight. Then all of a sudden the weight stops coming off. Why did you reach this plateau? Because your body adjusts quickly to these low to moderate impact exercises.

Once your body adapts to aerobic exercise it gets harder for you to burn calories. The calories you do burn during the typical cardio workout are quickly replaced when you drink a Gatorade. This means that all of that time and effort you spent working out were a waste. So how do you break over that plateau and get back to losing fat?

Interval training is the answer. Interval training, also known as anaerobic exercise, is a more intense workout. It involves brief periods of high intensity exercise with periods of low intensity exercise or rest. For example, you may sprint as fast as you can for 30 to 60 seconds, just until you are breathing hard, then you slow down and walk until you catch your breath again.

The reason interval training is the best fat loss exercise is because it will increase your metabolism for up to 36 hours. In about 24 to 48 hours after an interval training session your body will release growth hormone. Growth hormone will cause an increase in your metabolism and you will burn fat even when you are not working out.

The best workouts for interval training include any activity where you can incorporate short bursts of high intensity activity with periods of rest. Swimming, bicycling, walking/running, kickboxing and weight lifting are all good exercises that allow you to practice interval training.

Another benefit of interval training is that you only have to work out for about 20 - 40 minutes rather than 30 - 60 minutes with aerobic exercise. It will be easier to fit your workout into your busy day and you will enjoy the benefits of your exercise for up to 36 hours.

As with any exercise program you should consult your doctor or a trainer if you are just beginning a new program. If you are just starting your first exercise routine in a long time it is best to start out slower. Do some easier low impact aerobic exercise for a couple weeks and then step up to interval training.

There are more easy lifestyle changes you can make. I have published more free information about these changes and the best ways to lose fat at http://www.squidoo.com/my-fat-loss-secrets

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