BASIC WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
The perfect diet should be combined with a healthy weight
management or activity program. Weight management may conjure up
that dreaded "exercise" word. And exercise to some means pushing
the body beyond limits, experiencing painful in joints, muscles,
bones - everywhere. No pain no gain, right? Wrong. Instead,
replace the word "exercise" with "activity" and incorporate this
in your daily routine. And a general rule of thumb for
guidelines about "activity" would be to strive for a minimum of
30 minutes for adults or 60 minutes for children of moderate
physical activity daily. Individual activity goals depend upon
each person's health and weight goals and issues. Begin by
checking with your medical advisor or healthcare physician to
get a green light on which activities would be suitable for you,
what your target weight range should be and a strategic plan to
improve your health. In a nutshell, during activities, calories
are burned, pounds are shed in the long run. And the number of
calories burned depends upon the duration and intensity or the
activity. Slow and steady is the rule of thumb. And note daily
progress. For those who have never been very active at all, it
may be advisable to begin slow like with walking 10 minutes each
day, gradually building up time and distance with increased
"brisk" pacing. Even if you can't get out to walk, bike or swim,
take stairs instead of elevators and escalators. Clean your
house. Clean your car. Wash windows. Wash your dog. Check out
exercise videos, cassettes and workout books from the public
library and put some of their ideas into action (Visit
www.idealbodyfitness.com for more info). Check out your local
fitness centers, YMCA, community center, too, for ideas. Partner
up with a neighbor to walk or join a community volleyball team.
There are unlimited ways to be active and enjoy life at the same
time without using painful weight loss strategies.
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