Depending on your beginning level of fitness, the workouts recommended will vary greatly.  In choosing weight loss workouts you need to keep in mind that different exercises work different muscle groups and usually come in two categories of low impact or high impact weight loss workouts.  If you are a bit older and have issues with arthritis you will no doubt be looking for low or zero impact weight loss workouts.  Examples of low or zero impact workouts include cycles on the treadmill, Nordic trainers, recumbent bikes, or elliptical machines.  Other examples include water aerobics and other forms of aquatic exercise including swimming.  Any weight loss workouts in the pool are considered zero impact and are recommended for anyone who have joint or arthritis issues.  The water also tends to decrease the chance of inflammation and swelling with exercise.

Using a variety of fitness machines – treadmills, stationary and recumbent bikes, ellipticals and Nordic trainers allow the user to program any number of workouts from very simple flat course trips to elaborate mountain treks on some of the higher end stationary bikes.  LifeCycle makes models that come with a video screen that gives you the illusion you are racing in the Tour de France.  Gone are the days where you spend a half hour on the bike sweating staring at the walls.

In our local YMCA’s fitness club they have all of the machines in rows with sign up sheets and included in your membership is time with a personal trainer to assess your condition and to recommend the proper weight loss workouts to achieve your weight loss goals.  They have placed several TV screens on the one wall with a different FM station to tune to for sound.  That way you can pick from sports, news and entertainment to watch and listen during you weight loss workouts on the machines.

Most women often simply want to lose weight. A great way to lose weight quickly is to incorporate cardio activity into your daily life. If you really want to lose weight a great program would involve interval cardio training 3-5 times a week. Interval training can cut your workout time in half when done correctly! Interval training is also known for optimizing the metabolic rate in both men and women! This is great news for women who want to lose weight.

Light weight lifting is also a great way to achieve form and definition in your thighs and buttocks. If you really want to tighten and help get rid of saggy thighs you should definitely perform lunges daily. Lunges are great for building strong legs. Pilates is a great form of fitness for women. It provides extremely beneficial stretching with some resistance for building lean muscle tone. You will eventually want to incorporate resistance or weight training if you really want to get serious about your body. This is because muscle weighs more than fat. If you can build a lean body then you can be sure you’ll avoid being overweight.

Not only that, a lean, well-toned body also processes calories more quickly! A great at-home gym unit for women is the Total Gym. You might have seen this amazing exercise machine advertised on late night television. It combines effective resistance training with built-in Pilates! You can actually stretch and work your muscles at the same time. The convenience of having an at-home unit will help you to avoid missing out on consistent workouts. For many busy women, going to the gym after work is just too much hassle.

This is why home gym units have become so popular in the past couple years. Pilates offer various great workout routines for women. Pilates also helps regulate blood flow throughout the body so not only will you get a lean body, you’ll also reveal healthy, glowing skin!

Sit-ups can be performed in the comfort of your own home. Be sure to target all four major ab areas for maximum results.