Don't let one of the biggest misconceptions in the fitness and weight loss communities discourage you from losing weight and feeling better about yourself.
What misconception am I talking about? The idea that you must perform cardio to lose weight.
Or maybe even more specifically: Cardio is the best option to drop unwanted pounds.
This is not correct.
Not even close.
While I'm all for cardio, it's not the most efficient way to drop weight.
Seriously.
It does have several great advantages, mostly in the form of a stronger heart, circulatory system and lungs - but if you're wanting to lose weight, it's not your best choice.
So what are your better choices for losing weight? Resistance Training Working your muscles through resistance training exercises such as weight lifting, body weight exercises or calisthenics is truly your best option for burning calories and melting away unwanted weight.
Why? Because muscles burn an insane amount of calories, even at rest.
That means that the more muscles your work, the more calories you'll burn.
Think about it this way: Resistance training will increase your metabolism.
And as we all know, the higher your metabolism, the more calories your body will naturally burn.
If you're not comfortable with the idea of resistance training, here are some simple ways of incorporating it into your weight loss arsenal without going to a gym or straining through push ups on your living room floor:

• Sit in your favorite chair, then stand up again.
  This works the big muscles of your legs, hips and glutes (rear end).
  
• Before putting your groceries away, pick up each bag and lift it high over your head.
  This works the muscles of your shoulders, arms and chest.
  
• Have a ladder? Set it up and climb up and down.
  This will work your legs, hips, back, arms and even abs.
  

Of course if you prefer a more "standard" set of exercises, you can't go wrong with any of these:

• Push Ups or Bench Presses
• Chin Ups or Pull Downs
• Squats
• Lunges

And don't forget that you can mix and match from both of these lists, giving yourself quite the plethora of exercise options.
How Many Exercises Should You Perform? Ideally, you want to push your body farther than it wants to go, but even just one rep is better than nothing! Think about it, if you just perform one repetition of one single exercise when you normally wouldn't, you're actually farther ahead.
That said, it's usually a good idea to perform a more regimented system.
Eight to 15 repetitions per set is a good range, and it's also a good idea to crank out two or three sets.
Better Than Cardio While cardio training is awesome in terms of heart health, it's not a "calorie burner.
" You'll get much better results from even the most basic resistance training workout than you will by plodding along on the treadmill for hours at a time.
But don't forget that cardio does play a big role in keeping you healthy - so don't think I'm advocating against it at all costs, rather I'm simply saying that when it comes to losing weight, cardio isn't your best choice.