In addition to cardiovascular exercise, Dr. Oz says it is also important to build muscle mass through strength training. "Muscle burns 50 times more calories than fat does," Dr. Oz says.
Dr. Oz's first strength training exercise is the lunge, a simple exercise that is easy to do at home. "It's fundamentally important because it builds your lower body and your thighs. You want to lunge forward, get your knee as close to the ground as you can. Don't let the right knee pass over your toe."
Dr. Oz also recommends leg lifts. "This will strengthen the side muscles of the belly. You can do this. You can do all kinds of games with this. But it does strengthen your core muscles."
Strong core muscles will help you do pull-ups, another Dr. Oz-approved exercise. "The beauty of pull-ups is that when you're doing them, you're actually exercising your upper body, your arms, your torso. In the beginning, you might not be able to do it without something holding you up."
Dr. Oz says the combination of these exercises should be done three times a week.
Published 03/14/2008
As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.
