Walking, Jogging and Running

Walking is great for beginners looking to lose weight because it can be done anywhere, anytime. Plus, it doesn’t require equipment and has minimal impact on your joints. Harvard Health estimates that a 155-pound person can burn around 170 calories for every 30min of walking at a moderate pace of about 4mph.

Jogging and running are great if you’re looking for something easy to incorporate into your weekly routine. Jogging and running can help burn unwanted belly fat, which has been linked to many chronic diseases. On average, a 155-pound person can burn around 300 calories for every 30 minutes of jogging at a 5mph pace, or 370 calories for every 30 minutes at a 6mph pace (1).

Dance Fitness

Burning calories and losing weight can be enjoyable with high-energy dance workouts at your local gym or in your living room – with virtual online workouts. Dancing is a fun way to raise your heart rate and lose weight. A 2012 study found that female Zumba participants (aged 18-22) burned an average of 9.5 calories per minute, and an average 369 calories in a 40 minute class.

Strength Training & Interval Training 

Weight training is another great way to lose weight as you burn calories during and after your in-studio or online workout. Strength training may also help you build muscle mass, which increases your resting metabolic rate (RMR). Your RMR is the number of calories your body naturally burns while at rest. It’s estimated that a 155-pound person can burn roughly 110 calories with 30 minutes of strength training.

Many people looking to lose weight have been turning to interval training recently, because it helps burn more calories in less time. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is especially effective for losing weight because your body continues to burn calories for up to 24 hours after your online or in-person workout. One study found that for 9 active men, HIIT burned nearly 30% more calories per minute than other exercise types, including running on a treadmill, cycling and weight training. Additionally, studies have shown that HIIT targets belly fat, which reduces the risk for chronic diseases (2, 3, 4).

Barre

Barre is effective for weight loss because it combines cardio and strength training together in a single workout. While cardio workouts will burn more calories in a single session, strength training increases muscle mass which helps you burn calories even when you’re sleeping or sitting at your desk. Fitness programs that have both cardio and weight training help to maximize calorie burn.

Yoga

Yoga is good for weight loss because it can be done in a gym, at home with online fitness videos, or virtually anywhere. Harvard Health proposes that a 155-pound person burns about 150 calories per 30 minutes of Yoga. Yoga can improve mindfulness and your overall mental and physical well-being (5). It can also help you better understand your body’s hunger signals to control overeating (6).

Pilates

Pilates is a beginner-friendly exercise that can help you lose weight while building strength, balance, endurance, and flexibility (7). One study sponsored by the American Council on Exercise estimated that a person weighing roughly 140-pounds can burn 108 calories in a 30min beginner level Pilates class and 168 calories in a 30min a more advanced class. Pilates has also been shown to help reduce lower back pain.

Cycling

Cycling is another great exercise for all fitness levels which can be done outdoors or indoors on a stationary bike with online fitness videos. Cycling has been linked to increased insulin sensitivity and reduced risk of certain chronic diseases. According to Harvard Health, a person who weighs about 155-pound can burn up to 298 calories in just 30-minutes on a stationary bike at a moderate pace of 12-14 mph.