{"id":9278,"date":"2025-10-05T09:12:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T15:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/?p=9278"},"modified":"2026-02-15T15:27:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T22:27:52","slug":"whats-the-best-workout-for-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/2025\/10\/05\/whats-the-best-workout-for-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Best Workout for Weight Loss?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best workout for weight loss debate used to be an either-or or but now there is a third option – high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Scroll down to learn how this third option could be the best for you, and use the search in the BODi Library to find the best weight loss and HIIT programs and workouts<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Best<\/a><\/p>\n

The cardio vs. weight lifting for weight loss debate stems from the days when \u201ccardio\u201d usually meant going for a jog and \u201cweightlifting\u201d meant pumping iron in a sweaty gym. If those are the only two options you\u2019ll consider for your weight-loss routine, then go with weightlifting.<\/p>\n

Weightlifting will win the weight-loss war every time because it builds more \u201cmetabolically active\u201d tissue (AKA muscle), raising the number of calories you must burn each day just to stay alive and kicking. It also causes more \u201cmicro trauma\u201d to muscles, requiring a more intensive recovery process that raises your metabolism for up to 72 hours post workout. In short, any way you look at it, weightlifting will cause you to burn more calories, overall.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a third, even more effective option: high intensity interval training (HIIT), which combines cardio and strength training (notice we didn\u2019t say \u201cweightlifting\u201d\u2014 you don\u2019t need to lift weights to build strength) in the same workout to maximize calorie burn both during exercise and in the hours and days afterward. If you\u2019ve ever done a Beachbody program such as\u00a0P90X,\u00a0INSANITY,\u00a022 Minute Hard Corps, or\u00a0CORE DE FORCE, you\u2019re well acquainted with HIIT.<\/p>\n

Exercise, however, is just one element of a successful weight-loss plan. To lose weight and to make it stick, you have to adjust your entire lifestyle, including your diet and sleeping habits. Why? Because all of these things affect your body\u2019s ability to change.<\/p>\n

A Quick Primer on How Sleep and Dietary Habits Affect Weight Loss<\/h2>\n

When you skimp on sleep, your hormones go haywire, which\u00a0can cause you to pack on extra pounds. A study published in the\u00a0Journal of Thoracic Disease<\/i>\u00a0revealed that\u00a0poor sleep can contribute to weight gain<\/a>\u00a0because it may cause shifts in\u00a0cortisol levels, appetite, and hormones\u00a0such as\u00a0ghrelin, which research suggests can play a role in meal initiation<\/a>. Not getting enough quality sleep can\u00a0decrease\u00a0basal metabolic rate by up to 30 percent, and may also impact\u00a0workout performance, mood, and mental health, the study reported.<\/p>\n

No matter how well-rested you might be, though, you will not lose weight if you don\u2019t create a caloric deficit, which starts with making adjustments to your diet. To do this in a way that optimizes overall health and (hopefully) won\u2019t make you miserable, make sure you:<\/p>\n