In the medical community, obesity is now referred to as an epidemic. In fact, it may soon surpass cigarette smoking as the top cause of death that can be prevented in the US. Obesity raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and potentially cancer. Losing weight is one of the finest things you can do for yourself, given all of the health concerns and potential improvements in quality of life.
Despite what we might want to think, there isn't a quick fix for reducing weight. When the body requires more calories to function as a result of the demands you make on it during a given day than it receives from your diet, you will experience weight loss. It's that easy. Therefore, you must reduce the number of calories you consume while also increasing the quantity of calories you burn in order to lose weight.
When looking for a weight loss program, there are several alternatives available. They all frequently take a great deal of time to describe what to eat, in what amounts, and even when or in what combinations. However, few of them highlight the value of exercise for overall health and wellness as well as for weight loss. For a number of reasons, exercise is essential while attempting to reduce weight.
Initially, when you begin to consume less, your metabolism will begin to somewhat slow down. Your metabolism can be boosted back to an effective level by exercising. Second, exercise increases calorie burn, which helps you lose weight more quickly and maintain motivation. Third, exercise really causes the production of endorphins, which are molecules that uplift your mood.
Exercise doesn't have to include slaving away for hours at the gym or enduring strenuous workouts. In fact, you should like exercising if you want to remain with it over the long term. Start by stepping up your general level of activity. every time you can, use the stairs. When you go shopping, park farther from the entrance to the mall. Bring a buddy or your dog on a stroll in the park or through a neighborhood you enjoy. Learn a martial art or a dance.
Once you become more active in general, you’ll find it easier and more natural to move into regular exercise. Which you’ll need to do eventually in order to get regular, noticeable health benefits. You need to raise your heart rate to a fat-burning level and keep it there for at least 20 minutes, 3 times a week. However, if you don’t want to go to a gym, there are other options. Videos and DVDs are now available in all kinds of exercise types. That way, you can change your routine whenever you want, so that you don’t get bored with what you’re doing. Try a range of aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, or pretty much any activity you want right in the comfort of your own home.
If you have physical limitations that would keep you from exercising, you can still find a way to increase your activity level. Water aerobics is a wonderful option for those who have joint problems or limited mobility because it relieves the pressure on your body that your weight provides. But you still get the resistance to challenge your muscles from the water. There are even classes and videos available that let you exercise in a seated position.
Whatever kind of exercise you choose, it’s important to stay motivated and keep it fun. Try gathering a group together to make it a social event. Or get a pedometer, a device that tracks how far you walk, and see how many miles you can walk a week. Make a competition amongst your friends or family members and treat the winner with something special (not food related!). Make the experience of exercising something that you look forward to, and it will soon become a regular part of your healthier lifestyle.