Skip the Fat-Burning Zone

A lot of cardio machines at the gym have a "fat-burning zone" that you can choose. The idea behind this is that when you exercise in that particular zone of intensity, usually between 60 and 70% of your maximum heart rate, you will burn more fat.

It's true that at lower intensities, more of the calories that you burn actually come from fat as opposed to carbs. However, if you work at higher intensities, you'll not only burn the recently-eaten carbs, but you'll dig into these same fat stores.

The higher the intensity of your workout, the more calories you burn, and when it comes to losing weight, it's the amount of calories you burn during a workout that matters.

So if you can stand a workout that's a little harder, ignore those machine workouts and push your limits. You'll see results much faster.