Ways To A Healthier You!

By Casy Wigwire

For a long time, the weight loss mantra has been to eat less and exercise regularly and often, yet the epidemic of overweight and obesity not only continues but is growing. A provocative article in the Sunday, August 9 issue of Time entitled "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin" draws attention to a part of the mantra that may be in error: exercise may not really help achieve weight loss.

Let's begin with a bit of background information. Going right back to the fundamentals of weight loss, losing weight is a function of a calorie deficit. In other words, you must consume less calories than what you expend.

Your calorie intake is primarily a function of the foods that you consume. If you eat more calorie rich food, your daily calorie intake will increase.

One way to do this is to encourage exercise, which is known to benefit the cardiovascular system, reduce stress, improve mental status, and other overall health benefits. Therefore rather than the pressure to exercise vigorously to lose weight, which has not been successful for many people, the emphasis would be on preventing further weight gain, protecting any weight loss that has occurred, and promoting overall wellness.

You can choose the type of encouragement that you would want with a boot camp program. Some are run in the military style, and others are more positive encouragement types and may include yoga or mind-body training.

Another way to start a weight-loss plan that is very personal, is to hire a personal trainer. Make sure your personal trainer is certified and comes with personal recommendations. They will then tailor a diet and exercise program to deal your particular individuality. This is a great way to begin to lose weight, because it's all about you. - 31997

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