11 Best Compound Exercises for Weight Loss

When you’re ready to ramp up your weight-loss journey, few exercises rival the effectiveness of compound movements in the gym. These powerhouse exercises kickstart your metabolism, help you sculpt lean muscle, and enhance your overall strength. Compound exercises, which are known for engaging multiple muscle groups simultaneously, allow you to lift heavier weights, intensifying your workouts. To help you implement this type of exercise into your fitness routine, I have 11 of the best compound exercises for weight loss you can possibly do.

Due to their high energy demand, you’ll typically position compound exercises at the beginning of your workouts. These exercises include well-known moves like squats, pushups, deadlifts, lunges, and rows, yet a wealth of others can add depth to your regimen and amplify your fat-burning potential. While compound exercises are ideal for strength training and muscle hypertrophy, they are seamlessly adaptable to HIIT and interval training as well, creating versatile and effective workouts.

Below, I’m sharing my top 11 compound exercises for weight loss. Each exercise is accompanied by insights into its effectiveness, detailed instructions on proper form, and recommendations for sets and reps to optimize your results.