Exercise Equipment: Need to Lose Weight? Diet and Exercise Go Hand in Hand
by Ainuddin Mohamad
Americans are obsessed with weight loss. Maybe it is because over half of the
population can be considered overweight. Maybe it is all the skinny and gorgeous
celebrities we see on the TV. Either way, it seems like every other commercial,
radio spot, or magazine advertisements that are for some sort of diet program.
There are meal plans, there are pills, or there are shakes. Many people do not
realize that diet and exercise must go hand in hand for a successful weight loss
program.
The number one key to weight loss is to consume fewer calories than what your
body needs a day. Unfortunately, the conception then is that all you have to do
to lose weight is to eat less. However, this is not the case. The initial weight
loss that you experience is often just water weight. This gives you the false
impression that you are making progress with your weight loss. Starting a crash
diet puts your body in “starvation mode”. Your body thinks that it is starving,
since it is no longer getting the calories and nutrition it needs, so it slows
down your metabolism. This means that the number of calories you burn on a given
day is less. So even though you are consuming fewer calories, your body is more
likely to store the few that you are consuming. This causes a plateau in your
weight loss, and can cause the pounds to come back faster once you return to
your normal eating practices. You might even find yourself gaining weight while
still on the diet. This often holds true for the many diet pills available on
the market. They work for a brief time, but without exercise the body often
adjusts. On the other hand, exercise speeds up your metabolism, and the affect
lasts long after the workout has completed. So more calories are being burned
meaning that you can actually be burning more than you are taking in – diet
success!
Another downfall to dieting without exercise is that protein is easier for the
body to burn than fat. So it is a simple case of losing it if you are not using
it. Muscles are comprised mainly of protein. So instead of eating away at those
fat stores, your body starts to digest itself, reabsorbing precious muscle
tissue. What is the result? You feel weak and terrible; yet remain fat.
Exercising tells your body that you need those muscles, at which point it is
forced to attack the fat stores to get the calories it needs. What is the result
of that? Weight loss! Burning away the extra fat also will give you the leaner,
toned look you are going for.
The stress of dieting alone can wreak havoc on your system. It can be stressful
counting calories or watching what you eat when you normally just grab a candy
bar. Your blood sugar may fluctuate. You can become irritable, moody, or even
depressed. Exercise helps to boost energy and control stress. Exercising causes
the body to produce endorphins – the “feel good” hormones. These can boost your
mood and give you more confidence. The better your attitude, the more like you
are to succeed. Plus, people who exercise can eat more and still lose weight.
The important thing to do is to make healthy eating choices, not necessarily eat
less.
Exercise has been directly linked to lowering high blood pressure and high
cholesterol, and even helping to prevent diabetes and other diseases. Dieting,
however, can cause a myriad of problems, particularly if the person is inclined
to try crash diet after crash diet. Risk of deficiency diseases increases as you
may be cutting out essential vitamins and minerals as you cut out food. You can
end up with serious damage to your heart, liver, or kidneys. Long term crash
dieting can also turn into dangerous eating disorders such as anorexia or
bulimia. Any of these risks could land you in the hospital needing long-term
care.
Remembering to partner exercise and diet will allow you to have the most
successful weight loss program possible. Remember to always speak with your
doctor before starting any weight loss or exercise program. Exercise often and
make healthy eating choices and you will be well on your way to a leaner, sexier
you!
About the Author
Ainuddin Mohamad is the Webmaster of
http://www.BestWebsites.com.my which is a Directory of Best Websites. Since
July 2000
BestWebsites.com.my has featured thousands of best websites in many
categories of interest with descriptions/reviews given by leading publications
and webmasters.
Related Articles: Exercise Equipment: A Quickie Guide to Purchasing Used Exercise Equipment
Exercise Equipment: Achieve your Fitness Goals with a Kettlebell Workout
Exercise Equipment: Achieving the Best Gym Workout with Circuit Training
Exercise Equipment: Advantages of Free Weights over Exercise Machines
Exercise Equipment: Aerobics Fan? Be Sure You Have These Tools to Work Up a Sweat
Exercise Equipment: All in One Workout Machines - Take It or Leave It?
Exercise Equipment: An effective, and fun, gym workout with circuit training
Exercise Equipment: Avoiding the Scam Factor when Purchasing your Home Gym Equipment
Exercise Equipment: Beneficial Kettlebell Workouts
Exercise Equipment: Beneficial Tools for a great Workout in your Pool
Exercise Equipment: Bicycling Basics for an Overall Workout
Exercise Equipment: Can't Resist this Workout - Resistance Training for a Slimmer You
Exercise Equipment: Choosing an Effective Machine to Work Out Your Abs
Exercise Equipment: Effective Use of Dumbbells
Exercise Equipment: Exercise Accessories - A Guide to Gloves, Mats, Belts and More
Exercise Equipment: Exercise Balls - A Great Tool for your Home Gym Workout
Exercise Equipment: Exercise Bikes are NOT Created Equal - How to Find One Right for You
Exercise Equipment: Exercise Equipment Options for the Disabled
Exercise Equipment: Get Smart about Training with Dumbbells
Exercise Equipment: Get a Lift from Hydraulic Exercise Equipment
Exercise Equipment: Heart Health at Home - Dig Out Your Jump Rope
Exercise Equipment: Helpful Hints on Choosing a Gym that Suits your Fitness Goals
Hit or Miss – Which “As Seen on TV” Exercise Equipment Actually Works
Exercise Equipment: How To Buy Used Exercise Equipment
Exercise Equipment: How Yoga Can Benefit your Exercise Program
Exercise Equipment: Identifying your Exercise Goals Will Lead You to the Right Equipment
Exercise Equipment: Martial Arts Can Strike a Balance Both Physically and Mentally in your Exercise Regiment
Exercise Equipment: Mini-Trampolines - Do They Help or Hurt a Home Exercise Routine?
Exercise Equipment: Need to Lose Weight? Diet and Exercise Go Hand in Hand
Exercise Equipment: Park It - Take Advantage of your Neighborhood Park for Exercise
Exercise Equipment: Personal Fitness Monitoring - Useful Tools for Tracking Progress
Exercise Equipment: Proper Exercise Methods for Utilizing a Medicine Ball
Exercise Equipment: Realize your Fitness Goals at Home without Fancy Equipment
Exercise Equipment: Row your Way to Weight Loss - Benefits of a Rowing Machine
Exercise Equipment: Safety Issues to Address when Starting an Exercise Program
Exercise Equipment: Several Things to Consider when Purchasing a Treadmill
Exercise Equipment: Smart Training with Dumbbells
Exercise Equipment: Stair Climber and Gliders - What These Do for your Workout Routines
Exercise Equipment: Ten Tricks to Sneak in Exercise in your Daily Routine
Exercise Equipment: The Advantage of Using a Personal Trainer at your Gym
Exercise Equipment: The Basics on the Proper Use of a Treadmill
Exercise Equipment: The Benefits of an Elliptical Trainer
Exercise Equipment: The Bowflex Bandwagon - Worth the Hype?
Exercise Equipment: The Importance of your Shoes in Exercising
Exercise Equipment: The Ins and Outs of Rebounding Exercise
Exercise Equipment: The Most Beneficial Equipment for your Cardio Workout
Exercise Equipment: The Most Important Exercise Equipment for your Strength Training Needs
Exercise Equipment: The Must-Haves in Toning Equipment for Women
Exercise Equipment: The Nuances of a Nordic Track
Exercise Equipment: The Power of Pilates - What It Does for your Body
Exercise Equipment: Treading Water - Why Swimming Makes for a Great Workout
Exercise Equipment: Vibration Exercise Equipment - Is It a Scam?
What’s a Recumbent Exercise Bike and How It Can Benefit You
Exercise Equipment: Why Treadmills are so Versatile and Fit any Lifestyle
Exercise Equipment: Your Best Home Gym Options for Low Impact Exercise
|
