Expert: Linda Erwin, M.S. - 4/26/2007

Question
How long should a person exercise to maintain their body weight and how long should a person exercise to lose weight?

Answer
Hi Dee,
Maintaining your weight encompasses more than exercise.  There's the nutritional and sleep part of it as well.  If you eat healthy and get enough sleep and drink enough water, you could maintain fitness levels at 3-4 days per week for an hour to 90 minutes.  To lose weight you have to burn more calories than taken in, and exercise with weights and aerobic activity 5-6 days per week.  Lifting weights burns more calories at rest (more muscle mass).  Aerobic exercise for a minimum of 45 minutes will burn fat.  It's a good combination and works well.  Results really show in 6 weeks.
Hope that helps!
Linda