"What are the best exercises for weight loss and toning?"

I bet a few of you already know the twist I'm about to tell youÂ…

Yesterday, one of my Boston personal trainer clients asked "now that I am getting down to my goal weight, are there any other exercises I can do to add more definition to my arms?" This was a great question and one I get quite often.

If you are looking for the silver bullet set of exercises to tone specific areas on your body, I have to break the news to you. There isn't a magical set of movements to do this. The reason is that your muscles, believe it or not, are already toned. They are naturally striated and when flexed the density and form of the muscle becomes apparent. The problem you may be running into is that there is a layer of body fat covering those muscles.

However, I do have great news.

The news is that there are a group of exercises that, when done in a particular order and on corresponding days, can both burn fat, build muscle, and increase the definition you are looking for. That means by doing these exact movements you will achieve all the benefits you are looking for when it comes to transforming your body.

Here's a partial list of some of those exercises and how to pair them up for maximum metabolic effect:

1A. Dumbbell or cable alternating chest presses
1B. Dumbbell Romanian deadlifts or Bulgarian split squats

2A. Cable 1 arm rows with step back
2B. Dumbbell Zercher squats

3A. Dumbbell diagonal chops

These sample opposing, multi-joint exercises demonstrate how you can literally work every muscle in your body without overtraining or having to slug through long workout routines. You really can have the best of both worlds and burn off your excess body fat while toning your physique.

Although there isn't a fancy set of exercises reserved just for "definition," the big announcement is that there are even better movements that actually do it all!

If you are still pounding away on the treadmill or elliptical, don't wait a day longer to change up your programÂ… your results are waiting for you when you're ready.

Committed to your success,

Stephen Cabral, CSCS, CPT, NS
Author of Fatlossity - the Complete, In-Home, Step-by-Step, Weight Loss System
www.stephencabral.com/fatlossity

 

PS. If you didn't see the post "When Do I Get to See My Abs?" on www.TheDailySkinny.com you have to go check it now! Click here

 

Stephen Cabral is a national health correspondent with over 10 years of credentials. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. For more information on his Free Trim, Tone & Tighten Newsletter seen by over 100,000 readers each week go to www.StephenCabral.com