Health, Diet Reviews, Dieting Tips & Coupons

Any exercise is better than no exercise at all.  Even a stroll is better than staying on the couch all the time.  But if your goal is to keep the pounds off without starvation, vigorous exercise is your magic pill!  Our bodies were created for hard work, and they respond well accordingly with good health and strength.  So what are the elements of an effective exercise plan?  Aerobic activity, resistance training, and stretching are three key components to a well-rounded plan.  Effective weight maintainers tend to exercise a minimum of 45 minutes a day.  While this might seem like a daunting task, anything that becomes habit will eventually just be a normal part of your day.  For many regular exercises, working out first thing in the morning is very effective because the busyness of life doesn’t get in the way.  Mix it up a bit — try step aerobics one day, interval training with weights the next day, and a spin class next.  Alternating between weight training and aerobics is a great way to avoid overuse injuries.  Don’t forget to stretch every day after your workout!

Not everyone loves exercise — that’s a fact!  So when you read about how crucial exercise is to achieving long-term weight loss, it can be rather disheartening.  So how does one go from being a couch potato to actually enjoying vigorous exercise?  Just do it, as the famous athletic brand says!  When we exercise at a heart-pumping pace for at least a half hour, our bodies produce chemicals called endorphins that are as powerful as opiates in terms of promoting a sense of happiness, calmness and well-being.  In fact, doctors indicate that endorphins are as effective as anti-depressants in dealing with mood issues.  Our bodies contain a powerful drug that entices us to exercise so that we can enjoy the chemical benefits short term, and the health benefits long term.  So how can you tell if you are exercising hard enough?  Aerobically, you should get your heart rate up to between 65 – 85% of it’s maximum (more endorphins are released at the higher end of this range).  Strength training 2-3 days a week is also a must for weight loss.  Incorporate the two in a technique known as circuit training, and watch the fat melt away!