When talking about weight loss, people usually think about sweaty, grueling hours spent in the gym, lifting heavy weight and, overall, taking part in an activity that’s not at all fun. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are many more ways to shed some excess pounds and have a lot of fun in the process. How? By participating in sport activities, of course!
The good thing with sport activities is you don’t have to be a pro… you don’t even have to be that rigorous, just a hobbyist and play for a couple times a week to experience both weight loss and cardiovascular benefits.
So, what are the best sports for weight loss? Here’s a complete list, you can pick the one you like the most!
Running
Running is probably the best, most effective sport activity you can engage in to lose weight on a regular basis. According to research, it burns around 600 calories per hour. You’re not going to run for an hour, especially if you are a beginner, but a 20-minute run is something you should strive for.
If you are an overweight (or an obese) individual, it might be best to pay a visit to your doctor first, get checked up and see if your body is up to the challenge (as running can be tough on the joints of an overweight individual). Once that’s all cleared up, you can get into the exciting world of running!
My advice to you, is to start our slow, don’t get hung up on reaching that 20-minute mark straight away, as that’s probably unattainable. Start out slow, engage in some light walking and build yourself up – increase your distance, page and, eventually, start running.
Cycling
Cycling is probably the second best sport activity for losing weight and getting into shape. Research says an hour of moderately intense cycling will also burn around 600 calories. Cycling is the perfect substitute for running, as it does not put as much pressure to your joints and is generally a lighter activity.
Of course, cycling “equipment” (a.k.a. a bicycle) is more expensive as compared to running, but it’s a worthwhile investment. Cycling will also improve your cardiovascular health as you can quickly change your rhythm and add a bit of intensity to your route.
Accelerating Your Weight Loss
Sure, running and cycling are both great exercises, offering weight loss, cardiovascular, mental and all sorts of other benefits; and you should engage in those just to maintain your overall health… but as far as weight loss goes, it’s probably going to take more since an average number of calories burnt is “only” 600 per hour. Since you’ll be engaging in these activities for 20 minutes on average, that’s 200 calories lost in total. One slice of pizza has ~ 285 calories, for reference.
So, if you want to boost your weight loss efforts, you’re going to need some help. First of all, you need to get your diet in order – avoid junk food and make sure you eat as healthy as possible.
Secondly, you can take a weight loss supplement from your local pharmacy and see if it works for you. You can also go for something a bit “more scientific” and buy cagrisema. Cagrisema is a relatively new blend of some of the most effective weight loss peptide supplements – cagrilintide and semaglutide. Semaglutide is a well-known, FDA-approved diabetes treatment and a weight loss agent, while cagrilintide mimics the action of amylin (a hormone which regulates gastric emptying and the feeling of fullness).
Going back to sports activities…
Swimming
Even though swimming is more a low-impact exercise, compared to running or cycling, it can still help burn some fat and promote a healthy weight loss.
But what if you don’t know how to swim? That’s even better, as you can invest time into learning a new skill and enjoy the process of getting good at it. Depending on your location, there’s probably going to be a lot of opportunity to join a local club or just get a coach for a couple months to show you the “ropes” and send you on your way.
Overall, swimming is an amazing sports activity, offering beneficial effects for weight loss, overall fitness, reducing weight circumference and even “bad” cholesterol! Give it a try, your body will appreciate it!