Weight Loss and Exercise

As I have mentioned so many times, I HATE diets!  I’ve seen how dieting can affect overweight people.  Sure, initially there are pounds dropped…perhaps quite a few pounds!  Unfortunately, that sort of result is usually short-lived.

Most diets simply are not feasible in the long term.  Your body may feel like it is being starved.  Rather than burning fat, your body may begin to store fat to prevent starvation.  Eventually, it begins to crave foods and nutrients it has been denied.  Unless you have willpower of steel, sooner or later, you’re going to give in to those cravings. 

Too often, once the diet has been blown, dieters lose control over the amount of food and calories they consume.  They end up gaining back the lost weight and then some…so that they’re worse off than when they first began dieting!

There IS a solution, however!  EXERCISE!!!

Exercise To Lose Weight and Keep It Off

Even moderate exercise burns fat and calories.  The reason so many Americans are overweight is because they lead sedentary lifestyles.  Sitting around all the time, doing nothing physical, is just asking for trouble.

When you’re constantly idle, muscles slowly degenerate from lack of use.  Your metabolism slows down and your body burns fewer calories, causing fat cells to grow and replace muscle mass.  Cutting back on calories consumed can help slow down the inevitable weight gain.  However, most sedentary people do not count calories.

 There are other health issues at stake here, too.  As weight is gained, there is an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, colon cancer, and other life threatening diseases.

Exercise, on the other hand, can stave off obesity.  It can greatly decrease the risks of heart-related illnesses.  For people who are physically able to exercise, being active is one of the best weight-loss solutions there is.

Regular physical activity can help you lose weight and help you keep it off.  You don’t have to be a runner to have a slim, lean body.  You don’t have to be a hard-core athlete of any kind.  You simply have to get up off that couch and do some sort of exercise! 

The harder and longer you work out, the more calories you’ll burn.  Your metabolism will improve.  Your heart will grow stronger and function better.  With persistence and consistency, those extra pounds will begin to drop off and muscle mass will replace the fat.

Recommended Exercises

Walking is one of the most popular and one of the best exercises there is!  For one thing, most everyone is able to walk.  It requires no special skills or equipment, and it can be done just about anywhere.  When weather gets extreme, walking on a treadmill is recommended, if you have access to a treadmill. 

Bicycling is also a good exercise.  Of course, you need a bicycle and you need to know how to ride a bicycle.  There ARE stationary bikes that are easy to operate, and you can use those in the comfort of your own home.

Elliptical trainers are another great way to exercise.  They are low impact, so there’s very little stress on the hips, knees, back, and ankles.  Because you work the upper and lower body at the same time, you get the heart rate up faster, burn calories more efficiently, and can get good results in less time than other forms of exercise.

Dancing, kick boxing, skating, interval training…the list of wonderful exercises is endless!  Even moderate lifestyle activities such as gardening and cleaning are helpful in losing weight and keeping it off…provided such activities are performed several times a week.

Ideally, to lose weight and maintain the weight loss, an individual should get 20 to 60 minutes of exercise at least 3 times per week.  The more you exercise, the easier it will be to get thin and stay thin.

Note: Before beginning an exercise or diet program, consult your health professional.  Once you get the go-ahead, get to work!  You’ll be glad you did!

Written by Cyndi Waters
Fitness Specialist