Complex is Best

Wait! Don’t just skim down to see which exercise I’ve labeled as the best, get the whole story… 

I’m often approached and asked to pin down a single exercise as the one that will help lose the most
fat and sculpt the quickest. That’s not an easy question to answer.

You see, I’m very aware of
the fact that though an exercise may be perfect for Client A, it may not be the best choice for Client B—hence
my hesitation to label any exercise as the universal best.

That being said, some exercises are
definitely better than others. And, yes, there are even a few that I would call the best.

What makes an exercise the best?
When you decide which exercises
to include in your routine,
it is important to consider the type of movement involved. The simpler the movement, the fewer calories
you’ll burn and the fewer muscles you will strengthen. On the other hand, the more complex the movement,
the more calories you will burn and the more muscles you will strengthen.

To put it simply,
exercises that use complex movements will deliver better results than exercises that use only simple movements.
Complex movements recruit multiple muscles, some to stabilize and others to perform the movement. This process
keeps your heart rate higher than a simple exercise would, giving you a more intense workout.

What is a complex movement?
A complex movement is a multi-
joint movement that recruits large portions of the body to complete the exercise. Let’s compare a simple movement
leg exercise with a complex movement leg exercise:

The
leg extension machine uses a simple, isolated movement to work the quadriceps.
You’re in a seated position moving only your knee joint. There isn’t much involvement, if any,
from other muscles and it doesn’t burn very many calories.

Now let’s look at a
free weight walking lunge. You start by standing with your feet
together and a dumbbell in each hand at your sides (or a barbell across your shoulders,
or a medicine ball held at your chest, or even with no weight at all). You take a large
step forward and lower your back knee, keeping your front knee at a 90 degree angle.
Now you push off your front foot and pull your back leg forward, repeating the movement.

How many muscles did you utilize while performing the lunge? Probably too many to count.

You certainly worked your quadriceps, gluteus, hamstrings, calves, abdominals, supporting
muscles in your shoulders, arms and back- just to name a few. You also raised your heart rate and really
kicked your metabolism into high gear. That’s what I call a great exercise.

Other ways to increase intensity
Using complex movements are just one of many ways to kick your workout intensity up a notch.
Try incorporating a Super Set into your routine. To do so simply perform two or more exercises
in a row and then take a short rest.

Or how about a Compound Set? Perform one exercise,
rest, then perform an exercise with opposing body parts. To find exercises that compliment one another,
choose ones that have similar but opposite motions such as a chest press and a row.

The key to finding the best exercise is to find the ones that bring your workout
intensity to a whole new level.

I’d be shortchanging you if I named
any exercise as the best. The fact of the matter is that it is a combination of
changing your workouts up, using interval training, and even some good old cardio that
will ultimately see you to your goal.

These methods will help you to burn
more calories, increase your metabolic rate, and will stimulate the production of more fat
burning and muscle toning hormones. Of course, there is more involved to achieving your fitness
goals. You need to incorporate fat burning into your routine. You need to consistently challenge
yourself during workouts. You need to take control of your eating habits and to get your diet
dialed in.

So what’s the best exercise for you? Find out – call or email me today
to schedule your no obligation fitness consultation.