Best Weight Loss Workouts for Women

If you're looking for a weight loss workout for women, you may already know that losing weight isn't the same for everyone. Depending on your fitness level, age, lifestyle, and medical history, it may seem to take you longer to reach your goals than it does for other people. Plus, women tend to lose weight more slowly than men.

This slower rate of weight loss can be attributed to several factors, including differences in muscle mass and hormonal variations. However, it's possible to overcome barriers that are slowing you down. With a positive mindset and the right training plan, you can start seeing the results you want.

Physical activity and nutrition both play a role in weight loss. Most experts agree that what we eat is more likely to have a more significant impact on our rate of weight loss than exercise alone. Nonetheless, exercise provides several weight-loss benefits that go beyond burning calories.

Exercise produces feel-good endorphins that keep weight loss fun and prevent burnout. Building muscle, flexibility, and endurance through exercise can boost your body image and improve your chances of sustaining weight loss over the long term.

Cardiovascular Exercise

Cardio, or aerobic exercise, is often the first thing that comes to mind when trying to lose weight. Cardio is any rhythmic activity that raises your heart rate: Running, walking, swimming, or cycling, for example. It contributes to calorie burn (you need a calorie deficit to lose weight), and if you increase intensity, you burn more calories.

Get more out of your exercise time with higher-intensity workouts. Because these workouts are shorter, you can squeeze them in even if you don't have a lot of time.

Interval training is one of the best ways to increase your fitness level during any workout. Work hard for some time (say, 30 to 60 seconds), rest briefly, and repeat. 

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) takes regular intervals to the next level, focusing on very high-intensity exercises. HIIT offers proven benefits for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This type of training can also help improve body composition effectively and efficiently. An example is sprint interval training.

Tabata training is another form of high-intensity interval training that involves pushing hard for very short periods, helping you burn calories and rev up your metabolism. Try the Tabata low impact challenge or a high impact Tabata cardio workout.

Weight Training

Both men and women can see improvements in body composition (ratio of muscle to fat) with weight training, especially when it's combined with a nutritious, balanced diet. Beyond strengthening muscles, weight training burns a lot of calories (sometimes more than cardio).

Stronger muscles also help build stronger bones and boost metabolism. Following a regular weight training routine will help you maintain an active lifestyle for years to come, warding off some of the weight gain and chronic diseases associated with aging. Try a total body workout twice a week or split routines for your upper and lower body.

Kettlebell exercises can increase your strength just as well as regular dumbbells. You can also use resistance bands. Just make sure you're lifting enough weight. Proper form is extremely important for effective and safe strength training. If you're not sure how to get started, enlist the help of a qualified personal trainer.

Circuit Training

Circuit training involves going from one exercise to the next with no rest in between, usually combining cardio along with strength moves. If you get bored easily from weight training, circuit training is a fun way to sneak in a resistance workout. Aim to incorporate circuit training one to two times per week.

Weekly Weight-Loss Workout Plan

So how can you fit cardio, strength training, and circuit training into your routine for maximum fitness benefits? Plan your workout schedule ahead of time. Here's a sample of what that might look like:

• Monday: 30 minutes of HIIT, alternating 1 minute of speed walking or running as fast as you can with 2 minutes of walking for 30 minutes total. Follow up with the total body dumbbell workout for 30 minutes.
• Tuesday: 30 to 60 minutes of moderate cardio, such as the cardio endurance workout or any cardio exercise you enjoy
• Wednesday: Circuit training
• Thursday: Stretch or rest
• Friday: 45-minute HIIT workout, such as this treadmill boredom buster workout
• Saturday: Total body ball workout
• Sunday: Rest or an easy walk or gentle yoga class

Rest and recovery are essential components of any workout program. If you get really sore or run down, give yourself a day off and pick it up again tomorrow.

A Word From Verywell

When weight loss feels like it's taking forever, try not to get discouraged. Understanding the root cause of your weight challenges can help you develop a personalized plan that's more effective than what you've tried in the past.

Keep the motto "progress, not perfection" in mind. Remember, living a healthy lifestyle is an ongoing journey, not a race to the finish line. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on the positive changes you've achieved.