According to Liz Neporent, a trainer and coauthor of Fitness for Dummies , the first thing most people do when they decide to get into shape is spend money on gym membership or home equipment. But what you need are goals, not gadgets. And specificity is key. Next, give yourself a time limit. Say you want to lose two inches in eight weeks.
All exercise is good for something, but no exercise is good for everything.
Men who did all three lost 22 pounds in 12 weeks, according to a study last year. The nation's most successful weight-droppers work off 2,800 calories a week. To build strength, weight train. Don't limit your calories and go easy on the aerobics. Both could lower your testosterone, making it tougher to add strength.