
09/15/2025
🌟 The 3 Pillars of Exercise for Weight Loss & Health 🌟
To get the best results from your weight loss journey, aim to include a mix of:
💓 Cardio Training – Supports heart & lung health, burns calories
💪 Strength Training – Protects and builds muscle
🤸 Stretching – Improves mobility & prevents injury
✨ Cardio (Aerobic Exercise)
Cardio strengthens your heart, lungs, and helps burn calories.
➡️ Talk test: You should be able to talk, but not sing.
Beginner-Friendly Ideas:
🚶 Walking (indoors, outdoors, or treadmill)
🪑 Chair cardio (seated marching, arm circles, toe taps)
💃 Dancing at home
🚲 Stationary bike (low resistance)
💦 Water aerobics
▶️ Walking videos (e.g., Leslie Sansone on YouTube)
Goal: Start with 10–15 minutes, 3–5 days/week. Work up to 150 minutes weekly.
✨ Strength / Resistance Training
Helps preserve muscle mass (important when losing weight) and boosts metabolism.
Beginner-Friendly Moves (No Equipment):
🪑 Sit-to-stand from a chair
🙌 Wall or counter push-ups
🦵 Seated leg lifts
🥤 Water bottle rows
🪢 Resistance band curls/presses
⬆️ Step-ups on stairs
🍑 Glute bridges
Goal: 2 days/week, 1–2 sets of 8–12 reps. Rest between sets.
✨ Stretching & Flexibility
Improves mobility, reduces stiffness, lowers risk of injury.
Gentle Stretches:
👋 Neck rolls & shoulder shrugs
🦵 Seated hamstring stretch
🧍 Wall chest stretch
🐱🐄 Cat-cow stretch
↔️ Seated twist in a chair
🤝 Standing quad stretch (hold chair for balance)
Goal: Hold each stretch 15–30 seconds. Do 5–10 minutes daily or after activity.
💡 Start small, stay consistent, and build up gradually. Every step counts toward better health!