alternative exercises

Diet is only half of the battle when losing weight. Its also important to have an exercise program.

Now as per a dietician I used to go to, the minimum amount of exercise for weight loss is 5 one-hour sessions a week. And you can't say that you played basketball for 3 hours so that takes the place of 3 sessions. That only counts as one. 1 hour is simply the minimum amount of exercise you should be getting.

As per one of my fitness trainers, it has nothing to do with the length of the exercise, but more of the intensity. But still, the baseline is 5 times a week.

There are many ways to exercise. The more traditional activities are running, biking, swimming, aerobics and weight training (gym machines or free weights). Then there are your typical sports like basketball, tennis, golf, futbol etc. 

Personally, some of the exercises can be boring. So I've decided to list a number of alternative exercises that most people don't even consider.

1. Martial Arts: 

I've been doing one martial art or another for years. Karate, Taekwondo, Aikido. Right now I'm doing Tai Chi. You might think "but thats for old people" or "but thats so slow". Thats not true. There are a number of styles of Tai Chi, some faster than the others. And those who advance far enough get into Wushu, which is a sword art. How cool is that?! But as Tai Chi has a lot to do with control, this is an underrated way to keep in shape, as well as to find inner harmony. 

Martial arts don't just help keep you in shape. They also teach you how to defend yourself, something very important. Advance far enough into an art and you will find solutions for different situations. Solutions that may one day save your life, or at least keep you from any major harm. 

2. Dragonboat: 

Most people are more familiar with crew rowing. This is the kind of rowing that the rowing machine in the gym simulates. What they don't realize is that there is another kind of rowing, or paddling as we call it. 

Dragonboating is a Chinese sport whose origins are surrounded in myth. Whereas for crew rowing, your hands are both stretched out in front of you, in Dragonboat, you have a paddle and you paddle on one side of the boat. In crew you face the rear of the boat. In Dragonboat you face forward.

This is the hardest sport I've even tried. Races are only a few minutes long (the longest I've done is a 15 minute endurance race) but afterwards it feels like the life has been sucked out of you. Recommended to people who love the water and welcomes a challenge.

3. Yoga

True, yoga has become quite a phenomenon in recent years, but it still has a ways to go. I've never tried it myself, but I know people who swear by it, including my girlfriend. 

There are a number of different kinds of Yoga, the most difficult one being (BLANK) where you don't just do yoga, but do it in a heated room. 

Much like Tai Chi, Yoga is focused on balance and harmony, and looks like a good way to find one's center.

4. Suspension Training

Another activity gaining some momentum is suspension training. For this, most people are most familiar with the TRX brand. But there are a number of alternatives, each with their own advantages. 

There's EFX, which was developed by a mountain climber, hence the more "hard core" image. You can even attach olympic rings to it . 

The great thing about EFX is its all based on body weight. So if you're a big guy like me, you're burning more calories (as well as having a much harder time) doing the exercises. 

Another benefit of Suspension Training is that all you need are the straps and somewhere to attach them. No need to buy a full complement of free weights or exercise machines. No need to even hit the gym to use those weights and machines.

I do, however, recommend going to a certified trainer for at least the first few months. Just to make sure you're doing it right. As in any sport or exercise activity, ignorance results in injury. 

The main thing though, with any exercise program, is to mix it up. This destroys the monotony, and also makes sure you're working out different muscles all the time, adding to the muscle confusion, a key concept I'll be tackling later on, that has a lot to do with optimizing the amount of calories you burn. 

My biggest suggestion is to engage in a sport. Nothing drives you more than competition. And when you become fully engaged in a sport you don't count the minutes or the hours. It doesn't become a chore. It becomes something you look forward to and try to build on.