Losing weight is not just difficult – it’s one of the most difficult things to achieve. If it was, then the weight loss business wouldn’t be the multi-billion dollar industry that it is. Dieting is no fun at all – you deny yourself all the things that you enjoy and it seems to take an eternity to see any results.

If you would like to see faster results then adding some element of regular exercise to your weight loss program is a sensible step to take. The good thing about exercise is that, not only will you burn off additional calories due to the fact that you are taking exercise, but since you are exercising regularly you will increase your metabolism. You will burn off calories more rapidly, even if you aren’t exercising but just going about your normal daily activities. Whether you’re sitting watching the television, reading a book, typing on your computer – or even sleeping – you will burn calories more rapidly than before you took exercise.

If you are over 40 years of age, if you have any medical conditions, or if you just haven’t exercised for a while, then you should seek the opinion of your doctor prior to taking up any new exercise program. As to the best type of exercise to do, you will hear all sorts of suggestions from a variety of sources. In the final analysis, the most suitable exercise for you personally is whatever you can do and will be able to keep motivating yourself to do on a regular basis. It may very well be true that riding a racing bicycle at a speed of twelve miles per hour will burn off a lot more calories per hour than walking at 3.5 miles per hour or jogging at a speed of 5 miles per hour. However, it’s a pointless distinction if you really dislike cycling and won’t be able to motivate yourself to get in the saddle on a consistent and regular basis.

One of the best starter exercises available is, without a doubt, walking. It’s something which everyone knows how to do, which needs no training or expertise and which requires no special equipment. It’s also a low injury risk, low impact way to exercise which can be undertaken by a wide range of age groups and which has a very low dropout rate. You can pretty much fit it into your day whenever it suits you best – you can even increase your step count in two, three or even four mini sessions throughout the day if that’s what works best for you.

Don’t let the fact that walking is, relatively speaking, a low intensity workout make you think that it can’t deliver major health benefits for you. Health professionals recommend 10,000 steps a day to achieve a whole host of health and fitness benefits – including weight loss. That’s a total of 10,000 steps a day by the way – it includes all your normal walking activity. Get hold of an Omron pedometer and record exactly how many steps you take every day. It can also display the distance covered and the number of calories burned – if that is a better way to keep yourself motivated.

There’s no need to achieve the 10,000 step target value in one sudden boost. Look for convenient ways to include walking as part of your everyday activities and gradually build up to the target figure over time. You’ll be amazed at just how easy it is. Walk around when you’re chatting on your mobile phone – a 15 minute call will give you the opportunity to get an extra 1,000 steps in. Get off the bus one or two stops before your final destination and finish your journey on foot. Climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly small changes like this add to your step count. You’ll also be delighted at how much faster you are able to see, and fell, the benefits.

About the only other piece of equipment you need for a walking exercise program is a good comfortable pair of shoes. Make sure that your footwear doesn’t cause you any discomfort or give you blisters whilst walking. It will otherwise be hard to motivate yourself to carry on walking. If you like, you can take advantage of the latest fitness footwear. Shoes such as Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok Easy Tones and Fit flops sandals are all engineered to raise the amount of work done by your lower body muscles. They boost the effectiveness of your walking exercise regime and help you to tone and trim your lower body more quickly.

Whatever type exercise you go for, and however you manage to fit it into your day to day routine, the most important thing is consistency. A little extra effort, performed consistently, will assist you to burn off calories more quickly – both by exercising itself and by raising your metabolic rate. You’ll see results much faster than simply by dieting alone and – most importantly – you will feel good.

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