Kathy Emiko

In our world of today, when one mentions weight loss, the first thing that comes to mind is exercise, meaning 90% of people out there think that exercise is the solution to weight loss, but is this true?

What really is exercise? How does exercise affect weight loss? How does it affect our lives? Is it meant for only those that want to lose weight? Is exercise ?one size-fits-all?, meaning can everybody do the same exercise? How does one?s state of health affect the type of exercise to do? These and many more questions will be answered under this very controversial topic.

What is exercise?

It is a series of regular physical activity, not only for slimming but for everybody that desires sound health. It?s not only used to stay in shape, but to stay connected to ourselves by putting emphasis on quality and not quantity. It is a tool that everyone needs to know how to use, it needn?t involve extreme sport/aerobic workouts. It helps you discover a higher level of energy, apart from its benefits on health and looks, it keeps you physically renewed and in better mood.

There is no point going to the gym when you find it boring and monotonous, when it comes to exercise, you need to find an activity that you enjoy. Exercise does not have to be a struggle; it has to promote self acceptance and not self criticism. It should serve your lifestyle and support your needs rather than make you feel like a servant to some rigorous gym or workout schedule. It should fit into your life rather than taking over your life. It should also be adaptable to changing circumstances.

TYPES OF EXERCISE

There are basically three different categories of exercise.
? Functional exercise.
? Strength training exercise.
? Aerobic exercise.

These three types of exercise are woven together to get the best results.
? Functional exercise improves your flexibility, balance and coordination, they are primary stretches. Through this, you will achieve what is called functional fitness. It also improves your posture, makes you move gracefully and help you to avoid injury.
? Strength training exercise: This type of exercise basically involves weight training with dumbbells, weight machines and resistance bands, it will help to build up your endurance level and strengthen your joints. It will help you to avoid injury and keep your metabolism in high gear by building lean muscles. Muscles burn more calories than body fat, increasing your body?s calorie burning potential.

? Aerobic exercise: This type of exercise elevates your heart rate, helps you burn calories while doing it and also boosts your metabolism for hours after you have hung your workout clothes.
A combination of the three types of exercise will give you a perfect result.

What are the benefits of exercise?

Having defined exercise and types of exercise, then why should we involve ourselves in this program?
? Is it to lose weight?
? Is it part of a healthy lifestyle?
? Is it what is in vogue, so everybody has to do it?
? Is it the solution to many killer diseases like diabetes high-blood pressure, obesity, cancer, high cholesterol, arthritis e.t.c.?

To answer these questions, let us take a look at the benefits. Prevention they say, is better than cure, so to keep that weight off, exercise has to be part of your lifestyle not a tool to basically lose weight, it is a part of a weight loss program and the solution to weight loss, it helps to keep your body fit. There is no doubt that exercise helps to decrease blood pressure, obesity, helps control cholesterol, prevents some type of cancer and lifts up your spirit, but for all these to be achieved, a sensible eating habit has to be put in place. Exercise is not an excuse to ?eat what you like? with the notion that ?I will burn it off.” You never burn it off, instead, you increase your chances of weight gain.

Exercise is not an excuse to indulge in high carbohydrate, low fiber and high fatty foods but a tool to improve your state of mind. Exercise is not for a short period, like I hear people say, ?When I get to my target, I?ll stop to exercise?, that is why a lot of people yo-yo. If that weight has to go permanently, exercise has to be for life; it is not just a weekly affair as most people put it, only on Saturdays or Sundays and workout until their bones crack or can hardly move, it has to be regular and when I say regular, at most five times a week or at least three times a week and note that regular moderate exercise of 30 to 45 minutes every other day or everyday is better and more purposeful than two hours of irregular high impact exercise.

Note that you can experience many of the benefits of exercise without shedding pounds but one of the main reasons exercise improves health is that it causes fat loss with a calorie deficit and proper detoxing. Exercise boosts your metabolism, the rate at which you burn fat. One og the ways it does this is by increasing your muscle mass, the more lean muscles you have, the more calories you will burn, even when you are just sitting around or sleeping.

Exercise is energizing, if you are new to exercise, you might find out that you are more tired than usual, but eventually, it gives you so much strength and makes you stimulated and refreshed, and having more energy won?t necessarily increase the rate at which you burn calories, it may increase the number you burn. When you are energized, you have more stamina. Keeping your metabolic fire burning is particularly important as you get older but most importantly, when your metabolism is high, it is difficult for the body to store excess body fat hence, prevention is better than cure, don?t wait for the weight to creep in before buying your running shoes or signing up with a fitness center. Include it as part of your daily routine.

Apart from physical and health benefits, exercise has a lot of psychological benefits. It lessens depression, stress, anxiety, tension and anger. It helps you to be in control of your life. If you are emotionally down, exercising can assist you in working out your life’s problems. It helps you think more clearly, it makes you feel good and I mean, feel good about yourself.

Exercise revs you up when you feel shagged down. It plugs you into your power source. Without exercise, you probably don?t look as good as you would. Don?t wait for the doctor’s call before you include exercise in your lifestyle, it will reduce your visits to the hospital and your intake of pills.

If you are most concerned about your physical outlook and want to be most confident, then exercise is a must, because knowing and feeling that you look great is one of the best benefits of exercise. The appearance of someone who exercises moderately is always better than someone who doesn?t do a bit of it. Those that exercise always have a tighter body, stand tall, walk more confidently, radiate a happy, energized glow in their faces and have a better sexual life.

Exercise helps to carry your body to its best shape. When I hear people say: ?I don?t want to work my hips or buttocks,? I sigh heavily because that big shapeless hips or butts can only be ?shaped? with exercise. Exercise makes all part of the body proportional.

Clients usually ask ?will exercise reduce my breasts?? It will not reduce your breast or make it bigger but firmer and tighter, making it peak more when you do the right type of exercise.

Exercise is not just to stay slim, but to feel great in the body and mind; it has to be more of ?How Do I Feel? rather than ?How Do I look?. Exercise when done correctly, is a powerful way to transform your physical, mental and emotional state. For you to enjoy all the benefits, you must choose an activity you enjoy not a forced one, and remember if exercise is to be used as part of a weight loss program, there must be a calorie deficit and a proper detoxification. If it has to be used for fitness, your eating habit is also crucial, if it is to prevent any form of disease, your nutrition is also important, whatever you want to use it for, it must be part of your lifestyle.

Source: Vanguard

Natural Weight Loss Guide