How can I optimize my workout to lose more weight?

Many people successfully shed pounds by following a specific workout routine, but others may need to shake it up a bit. Registered dietitian Samantha Heller, RD, suggests ways to shrink your waistline while sweating it out.

Transcript

00:00

If you get on the elliptical every time you go to the gym, you do 30 minutes on the elliptical and then you do a little strength training, that's great.

00:06

But if you always do it, maybe you need to try something different. Take a Zumba class. Try some CrossFit.

00:19

Have you been working out for a very long time, and then you've hit this plateau and you want to lose more weight? I mean, I think that happens to a lot of us,

00:27

and there's a couple of things to consider here. It's normal if you're losing weight for your body to plateau for a little while.

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That's when your body is saying, OK, wait a minute, what's going on. Am I OK? Why am I losing weight? Is there still food in the world for me to eat?

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Am I healthy? And it's OK. So don't freak out about it. Sometimes when we hit a plateau, we've

00:48

let some extra calories start sneaking back in, and this is when going back to keeping your food record or your food diary will be helpful.

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You can also then look at your workout. If you've been doing the same workout for months and months, even years, it's time to mix it up a little bit,

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maybe do something different. If you get on the elliptical every time you go to the gym, you do 30 minutes on the elliptical and then you do a little strength

01:10

training, that's great. But if you always do it, maybe you need to try something different. Take a Zumba class.

01:16

Try some CrossFit. Go for a run or a walk instead. Mixing it up not only helps you stay motivated.

01:24

It also makes your body work a little harder, and you'll burn a few more calories. Also, another great way to ramp up your workout

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is interval training. And that means working at a moderate pace and then ramping it up for a minute or two, really,

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really hard, like running, and then go back to a slight jog or a walk. So interval training can be very helpful in burning