Many people begin a fitness program to lose weight. Sure, they may add that they want to be healthier by lowering their blood pressure or dropping their cholesterol number, but the real incentive is to loose pounds and inches in order to look better. Nothing wrong with that at all!

So now that we've identified what our goal is from a fitness program the next question is: "what's the best exercise for losing weight"?

The selection of exercises to choose from is staggering. Quite frankly, you can lose weight with any exercise that gets your heart rate into your fat-burning zone. You certainly don't need to run Marathons to lose weight!

Walking at a steady pace for 30-40 minutes four or more times a week can do the trick. The most important thing about any exercise program is to stick with it. You're not going to get to your weight loss goal if you give up after just 2 weeks!

May I make a suggestion? If you don't already have your mind set on an exercise that you're excited about performing 4 or more times a week, then why not give an elliptical trainer a try?

Even if youve never tried an elliptical trainer, youve probably seen them in use at health clubs or even advertised on TV or in print ads. They look so smooth and effortless that you may ask: can I lose weight using an elliptical trainer? The answer is a resounding Yes!

Dont let the smooth motion of elliptical trainers fool you its definitely a great exercise to quickly get your heart rate up into your fat-burning zone and to keep it there throughout your training session.

The low impact nature of elliptical trainers is great for reducing stress on your knees, ankles, hips, and lower back. At the same time, since it is a weight-bearing exercise you are supporting your body with your legs it can help build bone density thus staving off the debilitating effects of osteoporosis.

The benefits of elliptical machines give them an edge over most other training equipment including stationary bikes, rowing machines, steppers, and even treadmills.

The great secret about elliptical training is that the perceived exertion of the exercise is actually less than the calories burned on an elliptical trainer! You can burn the same number of calories in less time on an elliptical trainer than for example, a stationary bike. So instead of 30 minutes on the bike, how about 20 minutes on an elliptical trainer? Think about that for a minute and after it sinks in, the prospect of starting a weight loss program doesnt seem so daunting!

So congratulations on making the decision to start a fitness program to lose weight. Oops, sorry! I mean to get healthier!