Fit and Cool

Regular Exercise Can Speed Up Weight Loss

Losing weight is not just difficult – it’s one of the most difficult things to achieve. If it was, then the weight loss industry wouldn’t be the multi-billion dollar behemoth that it is. Dieting is no fun whatsoever – you are required to deny yourself most of the things that you enjoy and it seems to take forever before you see any results.

If you would like to see faster results then adding some element of regular exercise to your weight loss program is a sensible step to take. One of the great things about exercise is that, not only will you use up more calories because you are taking exercise, but the fact that you are exercising on a regular basis will boost your metabolic rate. You will burn off calories more rapidly, even if you aren’t exercising but just going about your normal daily activities. If you’re sitting reading a book, surfing the internet, watching TV – or even while you’re fast asleep – you will burn calories faster than if you weren’t exercising.

If you haven’t exercised for a while, or if you have any medical conditions, then be sure to have a chat with your doctor before you start any new exercise program. As far as the best form of exercise to perform, you will hear a variety of suggestions from different sources. In the final analysis, the most suitable exercise for you personally is whatever you can do and will be able to keep motivating yourself to do on a regular basis. Whilst it may be perfectly true that riding a bicycle around a track at an average speed of twelve miles per hour will use up more calories in an hour than walking at 3.5 miles per hour or jogging at a speed of 5 miles per hour. However, it’s pretty much an academic distinction if you hate riding a bike and wouldn’t be able to gee yourself up to get out on the track.

One of the best starter exercises is, without any shadow of a doubt, walking. It’s something that everyone knows how to do and which requires no special equipment. It’s also a low impact form of exercise which carries an extremely low risk of injury and has a dropout rate which is very much smaller than most other exercise modes. You can pretty much fit it into your day whenever it suits you best – you can even increase your step count in two, three or even four mini sessions throughout the day if that’s what works best for you.

Don’t let the fact that walking is a relatively low intensity exercise mode fool you into thinking that it won’t deliver significant health benefits for you. There seems to be general agreement amongst health professionals that walking 10,000 steps each day will deliver a whole host of health benefits – including weight loss. That number of 10,000 includes all of your normal walking activity. Get hold of an Omron pedometer and record exactly how many steps you take every day. It will also show you distance covered and calories burned if that helps to keep you motivated.

There’s no need to get up to 10,000 steps in one fell swoop. Look for ways to incorporate walking in your daily routine and then slowly build up to the target value over time. You’ll be surprised how easy it is. When you’re talking on your mobile or cordless phone walk around – you can fit in an extra 1,000 steps during a fifteen minute telephone call. Get off the bus one or two stops before your final destination and finish your journey on foot. Use the stairs instead of taking the lift. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly small changes like this add to your step count. You will be extremely happy at how quickly you will be able to both see and feel the benefits.

About the only other piece of equipment you need for a walking exercise program is a good comfortable pair of shoes. Be certain that your shoes don’t cause you any discomfort or give you blisters when walking. Otherwise, it will be difficult to motivate yourself to walk further. If you want, you can make use of the latest advances in the design of exercise footwear. Shoes such as Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok Easy Tones and Fit flops sandals are all scientifically designed to raise the amount of work carried out by the muscles in your lower body. They maximize the effectiveness of your walking workout program and help you to tone up your lower body more rapidly.

Whatever exercise you opt for, and however you choose to accommodate it in your daily schedule, the critical thing is consistency. A little extra effort, performed consistently, will assist you to burn off calories more quickly – both by exercising itself and by raising your metabolic rate. You’ll see results much faster than simply by dieting alone and – most importantly – you will feel good.

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