The Dreaded 'E' Word!

So you want to lose weight, but are trying desperately to avoid exercising at all costs. It's bad enough adjusting to a new eating regime, let alone adding an exercise plan in as well! I mean really, what use is exercise anyway?!

You may not be altogether surprised to hear that regular exercise can play a vital part of effective weight loss.

Exercise assists in controlling your weight by using up the excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat!

Physical activity can help to prevent many diseases as well as improve your overall health.

For example – daily physical activity can help to prevent heart disease and stroke, by strengthening your heart muscle, lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow and increasing your heart’s working capacity.

By reducing body fat through regular physical exercise you can help prevent and / or control type 2 diabetes.

Increasing your muscle strength, endurance, improving flexibility and posture all helps to prevent back pain.

Regular weight baring exercises will promote bone formation and can prevent osteoporosis.

By participating in regular physical activity, you can also improve mood and the way you feel about yourself, as exercise releases ‘happy’ endorphins into your system and therefore are likely to reduce depression, anxiety and can help you to better manage stress.

Your weight is determined by the number of calories you eat each day minus what your body uses.

Everything you eat contains calories, and everything you do uses calories, including sleeping, breathing, and digesting food. Therefore, any physical activity in addition to what you normally do will burn those extra calories.

Balancing the number of calories you expend through exercise and physical activity with the calories you eat will help you achieve your desired weight. The key to successful weight loss and improved overall health is making physical activity a part of your daily routine.

If you haven't exercised for a while, always try to start off slowly, and try and tune into what your body is telling you. Being out of breath and a little red in the face is one thing, but headaches, dizziness and gasping for breath is your body's unique way of saying 'ease up tiger!'.

Why not go out for a walk, if you have a dog (or a partner), why not take him too! Ok, you would but it's raining outside? Well then walk up and down the stairs, jog on the spot, play some games on the wii fit!

Literally ANYTHING that gets you moving, and a little out of breath will all help speed up your metabolism, and burn those little extra calories that are at the moment just 'hanging around'