For the biggest body-shaping benefits, you can't beat strength training. But to boost your weekly calorie burn even more — and lose fat faster — add a little aerobic exercise.

Before you shake your head and say, "Not for me," consider that the ideas of what constitutes "aerobic" exercise have come a long way.

Gone are the days of having to squeeze into a pair of Lycra tights and sweat up a storm in an exercise class (unless you want to!).

You can get all the aerobic benefits you need from everyday activities like walking or even gardening.

Once you start adding some cardiovascular exercise into your routine, you'll find that a little goes a long way. If you do nothing more than take two brisk 10- to 15-minute walks a day, you can drop one or two dress sizes over the course of a year — even without dieting.

Some researchers also believe that aerobic exercise specifically targets the layer of fat in your abdominal area, which is good news for stubborn belly bulges.

What's more, the benefits of aerobic exercise extend well beyond a shrinking waistline.

Exercise burns calories, and study after study shows that the more calories you burn, the less likely you are to get cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and even certain cancers.

Do What You Love

The most important part of your aerobic routine is to do something you love. Remember, you're going to be doing this a couple of times a week. If it's an activity you hate, you'll get frustrated or bored and quit.

The exercise you choose should be something you find enjoyable and that fits conveniently into your life.

The best way to beat boredom is variety. Having a selection of workouts to choose from keeps you — and your body — from feeling burned out. And there's never been a better time to put variety in your workout routine.

The biggest trends in fitness tapes, classes, and clubs these days is to offer routines that combine great music, new moves, and sport-specific workouts that are more fun and functional than old-fashioned aerobics.

The best exercise is one that you'll continue to do. So every day, in addition to your regular workout, try something new just for fun-hitting a tennis ball against the house, shooting hoops with your kids, or dancing to a golden oldie on the radio.

If you find something that you like, incorporate it into your daily workout. Not the group-exercising type? Try a new active hobby, such as swimming, hiking your local nature trails, or playing golf or tennis