In general, increasing your physical activity will help you burn calories and keep your metabolism up. However, if you want to maximize your efforts so that you’re burning fat and calories as much as possible, you can take a few simple steps. First, incorporate cardiovascular exercise into your routine at least 3 times a week. Try to make your sessions last at least 30 minutes, because it can take up to 20 minutes before your body starts burning fat (versus carbohydrate) for energy. If you can’t fit in a 30-minute session, the next best goal would be to aim for at least three 10-minute sessions.

Another step you can take is to incorporate weight-bearing exercises (i.e. hand weights, squats, lunges, etc.). Maintaining and building muscle will help you burn more calories, even at rest. A good goal would be to include two 30-minute, weight-bearing exercise sessions twice a week.

Other simple steps to take include standing instead of sitting, whenever possible. Also, getting ample sleep is important to maintaining your energy levels for daily activity. Finally, look for support to help you stay motivated and on track with your goals.

Try applying these steps to your exercise efforts. It can maximize your fat and calorie burning potential, so you can see improved weight loss results!