When it comes to losing body fat, diet is key. However, exercise also plays an important role by burning calories, building metabolism-boosting muscle, and improving overall fitness. Not all workouts are created equal when it comes to fat loss, however.

Some exercises simply burn more calories and target bigger muscle groups. Here are five of the best exercises to incorporate into your routine if you want to see real fat loss results.

Dumbbell Thruster

Freepik | The dumbbell thruster is one of the most effective full-body exercises for fat burning.

The dumbbell thruster is one of the most effective full-body exercises for fat burning. It combines a squat with an overhead press, recruiting multiple large muscle groups at once - your quads, glutes, shoulders, and core. Performing compound movements like the thruster taps into more muscles and in turn burns more calories per rep.

To do a thruster, stand holding a pair of dumbbells at shoulder height with feet shoulder-width apart. Squat down, going as low as you comfortably can while keeping your chest up. Drive through your heels back to standing while pressing the weights directly overhead. Lower back to the shoulders and repeat for 10-12 reps. This exercise will get your heart pumping while working the major muscle groups.

Mountain Climbers

Mountain climbers is a high-intensity bodyweight exercise that torches calories and works the whole body. What makes it so effective is that it engages nearly every major muscle group while skyrocketing your heart rate.

Get into a high plank position with shoulders over wrists and body in a straight line. Keeping your core engaged, drive one knee up towards your chest, tapping the toe on the ground if possible. Quickly switch legs, driving the other knee up. Move at a rapid tempo, like you're climbing a mountain, for 10-12 reps on each side. The faster you go, the more calories you'll burn!

Burpees

Freepik | prostooleh | Burpees are known as one of the most demanding full-body exercises.

Burpees are known as one of the most demanding full-body exercises. They combine a push-up, squat, and jump all in one fluid movement, providing both strength and cardio benefits. Burpees are metabolically demanding, meaning they boost your metabolic rate even after you finish them.

From standing, squat down and place your hands on the floor in front of you. Kick your feet back into a push-up position. Do one push-up, then jump your feet back in towards your chest. Stand up from the squat and leap into the air, extending your arms overhead. That's one rep. Continue for 10-12 before you want to collapse!

Kettlebell Swings

Kettlebell swings work almost every muscle in your posterior chain, from your hamstrings and glutes to your upper and mid back. They not only torch calories but also build the muscle mass that helps increase your resting metabolism.

Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width, holding a kettlebell with both hands. Hinge at the hips, sending your butt back as you swing the kettlebell between your legs. Drive through your heels to stand back up straight, swinging the kettlebell up to chest height.

Control the descent as you hinge again. Aim for 10-12 reps. Focus on using force from your hips and glutes, keeping your arms straight.

Walkout to Push-Up

Freepik | Walkout to Push-Up exercise combines a core-testing walkout with a triceps-blasting push-up.

This exercise combines a core-testing walkout with a triceps-blasting push-up. It builds functional strength while working the chest, shoulders, arms, and anterior core in one fluid motion. Like other full-body moves, it recruits more muscles and burns more calories per rep.

Stand tall, then bend at the hips and lower into a plank position, walking your hands out until you're in a high plank. Keeping your core braced, perform one push-up. Walk your hands back in towards your feet to stand back up. That's one rep. Shoot for 10-12 reps for maximum fat-burning effects.

Sample Fat Loss Circuit Workout

Now that you know some of the best fat-frying exercises, try stringing them together into a circuit workout. Circuit training keeps your heart rate elevated while you move from one exercise to the next with minimal rest, maximizing calorie burn.

Here's a sample fat-blasting circuit:

• Deadlifts - 5 reps
• Thrusters - 8-10 reps
• Kettlebell Swings - 8-12 reps
• Jumping Lunges - 6-12 reps per side
• Mountain Climbers - 10-20 reps

Complete the circuit by doing one exercise after another with just 1-2 minutes rest between circuits. Repeat for 3-5 total circuits. This type of high-intensity circuit workout will torch calories and leave you feeling accomplished.

Making fat loss progress requires a combination of proper nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, and strength training. Incorporate these top five most effective exercises into your regimen to see results.

Exercises like thrusters, mountain climbers, burpees, kettlebell swings, and walkout push-ups work multiple muscle groups, elevate your heart rate, and boost your metabolism. Combine them into challenging circuit workouts, and you're on your way to dropping body fat!