Skip the endless hours of cardio (HIIT is more efficient anyway) and make sure you incorporate strength training into your fitness plan, said NASM-certified trainer and exercise physiologist Krissi Williford. You can lift weights like dumbbells or barbells or use bodyweight movements. Building muscle through strength training will encourage your body to burn more calories at rest and speed up your metabolism, explained Nicole Aurigemma, a physiologist at the Penn State Muscle Biology Lab, in a previous interview.
Aim for at least three strength-training sessions a week, include all parts of your body, incorporate different exercises, and use a variety of equipment. Try these strength-training workouts:
