Why You Should Exercise

A lot of people need to follow an exercise program, in order to remain healthy.  Below, you'll find several good reasons why you should start exercising now.

1.  Contributes to fat loss

It is well proven from scientific research all over the world that physical exercise contributes to weight loss.  If you burn more calories than you consume through nutrition, you'll lose weight.  When you exercise, you burn more calories than when you don't.  It's really simple - the more you exercise, the more weight or fat you'll lose.

2.  Prevent disease

The chances of developing several various diseases has been proven to decrease when exercising.  These diseases include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and the stroke.

Around 4 out of 5 deaths caused by heart disease and cancer, are linked to factors that include stress and lack of exercise.  We all know that diabetes increases the chance for heart attacks and strokes. What this shows, is that many of the risk factors and diseases caused by not exercising are working in conjunction to damage your health.  To prevent this from happening, start exercising.

3.  Improving disease

Many severe and minor diseases can be improved or even healed through regular exercise. These even include the diseases listed above.  By following a regular plan, you can also decrease HDL cholesterol levels, decrease triglyceride levels, and decrease your blood pressure as well.

Exercising on a regular basis will also reduce the risk of prostate cancer for men, breast and uterine cancer for women, and much more.  All of this is scientifically proven, which is why you should start exercising today.

4.  Enhance your state of mind

Everyone knows from the many scientific studies that regular exercising will lead to an increased release of endorphins in the body.  These chemicals will fight depression and make you feel happy.  The body releases these endorphins only 12 minutes into the workout.

There is another chemical known as serotonin that is increased during and after a workout. The increased levels of serotonin in the central nervous system is associated with feelings of well being and decreased mental depression. The chemical can also help you sleep better at night.

5.  Enhance your wellness

When you are in great shape and well fit, you'll have more energy and you'll notice that your overall mood is improved.  You will have experienced that you can stretch beyond your own limits and you know that you can do more than you thought possible.

6.  Persistence

Exercising regularly will give you more energy, which can help you be more productive at home and at work.  Exercising can help give your new goals a sense of purpose and give you something to focus on and aim for.  This can help you increase your persistence and prevent you from going off track while you aim for your goal.

7.  Social capabilities

After a workout on a regular basis you can boost your self esteem.  This can help you look better and you'll be more comfortable as well.  Exercise will also help you to become more active and meet new people, which will prevent you from feeling isolated and unsupported.  Exercise will also increase your interests in sex, and can help you to improve your marriage or your partner relationship.



After knowing all of these tips and reasons to exercise, you shouldn't hesitate to get out there and exercise.  You can exercise at home or go out there and join a gym.  There are several different ways that you can exercise, all you have to do is select a few that you like.  Take a little bit of time out of your day and start exercising - you'll feel better than ever before and your body will thank you.

Diets that don't work

Avoid these five types of diets for best weight loss results, experts say.

 

By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Feature

Medically Reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks http://www.webmd.boots.com/rob-hicks

"Eat what you want, when you want, and watch the pounds disappear!" You've heard of them, maybe even tried them: miraculous-sounding diets that claim to shed kilos with minimal effort. There are hundreds of these quick-fix diets out there, from the grapefruit diet to the detox diet to the "caveman" diet. How do you tell legitimate weight loss plans from diets that don't work?
One reason's it's so hard to tell the difference is that even the worst diets will probably result in weight loss. Don't be fooled into thinking weight loss can be achieved because of some magical food, pill or potion. What causes weight loss is eating fewer calories than you burn. Ridiculous, unbalanced diets cause weight loss because they are basically low-calorie diets.
After a few weeks on an unrealistic diet, dieters usually become frustrated and give up. This leads to feelings of failure that can help send them right back to their unhealthy lifestyles.
" Fad diets not only fail to produce long-term weight loss, they can lead to deprivation, weight gain, and discouragement", says Dr Michelle May, author of Am I Hungry? What to Do When Diets Don't Work. “ In other words, you are often worse off than before you started".

The worst diets ever

Experts have identified five types of diet that are unlikely to produce long-term results for most people. 

1. Diets that focus on only a few foods or food groups (like the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, strict vegan diets, raw food diets, and many low-carb diets).
Beware of any diet that rules out entire food groups.  People need to eat from a variety of food groups to get all the nutrients they need.
Although some restrictive diets do work initially, they fail long term. You can lose weight on diets that focus on single foods, like cabbage soup, but how much cabbage soup can a person eat?  Before long, you grow weary of eating the same foods every day and cravings for favourite foods lead you back to your former eating behaviour.
Keep in mind that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle in moderation, even things like bacon and ice cream. And when diets forbid certain foods and dieters envisage a life without their favourite treats, those diets usually fail.

2. "Detox" diets.  (Extreme regimes calling for procedures like liver flushes, bodily cleanses, colonics, or hormone injections).
“All the flushes and cleanses are pure nonsense, unnecessary, and there is no scientific basis for these recommendations", says Dr Pamela Peeke, chief medical correspondent for the Discovery Health channel.  "Your body is well equipped with organs, such as the liver and kidneys, and the immune system, to rid itself of potential toxins and does an excellent job of cleansing itself without needing flushes or cleanses".

3. Diets with "miracle" foods or ingredients (like supplements, fructose water, bitter orange, green tea, or apple cider vinegar).
Dieters are always searching for the food, pill, or potion that will help them lose weight, but unfortunately, there are no such miracle ingredients. In reality, no one single food, or group of foods, eaten together or at a certain time of day has any impact on weight loss.
Be wary of any plan that recommends a shelf full of supplements, enzymes, or potions, these can be expensive and may well offer no benefit.

4. Fasting and very low-calorie diets.
Fasting has been a cultural and religious tradition for centuries, and is fine for a day or so, but fasting for weight loss is counterproductive. When you consume too few calories, your body thinks it is starving and adjusts your metabolism. When you go back to eating normally, your metabolism doesn't readjust and therefore you need fewer calories than before, so you swing between losing weight and putting it back on again, otherwise known as the yo-yo syndrome.
What's worse, weight loss during a fast is usually a combination of fat, fluid, and muscle, but the pounds regained will probably be all fat.  Not convinced yet? Experts say you won't feel good, nor will you have much energy to be physically active while fasting.
What about very low-calorie diets? These may result in impressive weight loss at the beginning but this will slow over time as weight loss averages out.

5. Diets that sound too good to be true.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Diet plans that claim to have a "secret", that make dramatic statements against respected health authorities, or make recommendations that contradict those of scientific organisations are suspect.

Finding a diet that works

There is no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to diet plans, and it's important to find one that fits your lifestyle. The best diet is one you can safely and realistically stick with for the long term, plain and simple.
It should be flexible enough to fit in with your lifestyle and should encourage healthier eating by focusing on balance, variety and moderation.
In fact, the best "diet" may not be a diet at all.  Instead, think about strategies to satisfy your hunger for fewer calories. Eating more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help manage your appetite.

Here a two top tips for weight loss.

1. Take stock of what you're doing now and identify your "weakest link". Most people know immediately where they are vulnerable, mid-afternoon snacking, large portions, too much alcohol, a sweet tooth, or snacking all day long.  Try to identify what led to your weight gain and address it. For example, if you overeat because of stress, consider a stress management course. Develop a strategy to address areas where you're vulnerable so you can set yourself up for success.
2. Identify one to three small changes you can make straight away in your diet and exercise habits.  Reassess in a few weeks to see whether your changes are working; then make a few more small changes. Expect to see significant changes in around 12 weeks.

Article Source: http://www.webmd.boots.com

SOURCES:
Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LD, spokeswoman, American Dietetic Association.
Dr Michelle May, author, Am I Hungry?What to Do When Diets Don't Work.
Dr David Katz, associate professor, Yale University School of Public Health; author, The Flavor Point Diet.
Dr Pamela Peeke, chief medical correspondent, Discovery Health channel; author, Body for Life for Women.
Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, spokeswoman, American Dietetic Association.
Top Ten Red Flags of Junk Science, the Food and Nutrition Science Alliance,1995.

Reviewed on January 17, 2012

© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Link Between Weight Gain And Personality Trait Changes

People who gain weight are more likely to give in to temptations but also are more thoughtful about their actions, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

To understand how fluctuations in body weight might relate to personality changes, psychological scientist Angelina Sutin of the Florida State University College of Medicine and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examined data from two large-scale longitudinal studies of Baltimore residents.

"We know a great deal about how personality traits contribute to weight gain," said Sutin. "What we don't know is whether significant changes in weight are associated with changes in our core personality traits. Weight can be such an emotional issue; we thought that weight gain may lead to long-term changes in psychological functioning."

The studies, NIH's Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) and the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study, included more than 1,900 people in total, of all ages and socioeconomic levels. Data about participants' personality traits and their body weight were collected at two time points separated by nearly a decade. In one study, a clinician measured participants' weight at the two time points; in the other study, the participants reported their weight at baseline and had it measured by a clinician at follow-up.

Sutin and colleagues found that participants who had at least a 10 percent increase in body weight showed an increase in impulsiveness - with a greater tendency to give in to temptations - compared to those whose weight was stable. The data don't reveal whether increased impulsiveness was a cause or an effect of gaining weight, but they do suggest an intimate relationship between a person's physiology and his or her psychology.

In a surprising twist, people who gained weight also reported an increase in deliberation, with a greater tendency to think through their decisions. Deliberation tends to increase for everyone in adulthood, but the increase was almost double for participants who gained weight compared to those whose weight stayed the same.

"If mind and body are intertwined, then if one changes the other should change too," Sutin said. "That's what our findings suggest."

Sutin and colleagues speculate that this increase in deliberation could be the result of negative feedback from family or friends - people are likely to think twice about grabbing a second slice of cake if they feel that everyone is watching them take it.

These findings suggest that even though people who gain weight are more conscious of their decision-making, they may still have difficulty resisting temptations.

"The inability to control cravings may reinforce a vicious cycle that weakens the self-control muscle," the researchers note. "Yielding to temptation today may reduce the ability to resist cravings tomorrow. Thus, individuals who gain weight may have increased risk for additional weight gain through changes in their personality."

Article adapted by Medical News Today http://www.medicalnewstoday.com from original press release.

Co-authors are National Institute on Aging researchers Paul Costa, Wayne Chan, Yuri Milaneschi, Alan Zonderman, Luigi Ferrucci, and Antonio Terracciano, also at Florida State University College of Medicine; and William Eaton of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging and a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

How to keep weight off

If you've achieved your target weight, well done! But don't undo all the good work by reverting to old habits.

The effects of quick-fix diets often don't last, as many people fall back into old eating and activity habits after the weight is lost. If you find your weight is going back up again, it's time to take action.

How to keep weight off

The key to reaching your ideal weight and then keeping weight off is to make long-term changes to your diet and lifestyle that you can stick to for life.

The following tips are likely to help keep weight off:

• Stick to lower-calorie eating. A lower-fat, higher-protein diet has been shown to help maintain weight loss for some people. This could be because protein-rich meals make you feel fuller more quickly, making you less likely to snack between meals.
• Plan ahead. Maintain your healthier eating habits regardless of changes in your routine, such as eating out, weekends or holidays. By planning ahead, you're less likely to slip up.
• Eat breakfast. Research shows that breakfast can help people control their weight. Having breakfast can help you avoid getting too hungry and snacking later on.
• Stay active. Build up your physical activity levels. So if you’ve already been walking regularly, think about walking for longer, or start running.
• Watch your weight. Weigh yourself regularly so you can keep a close eye on any changes to your weight.
• Get support. If you have talked to a health professional about your weight in the past, make sure you go back regularly to get support from them.
• Keep it interesting. Variety is the spice of life, so if you feel yourself slipping back into old ways, mix things up a bit. Buy a new healthy cookbook, sign up for a healthy cooking course or try a new activity.
• Set yourself goals. These can help to motivate you into keeping up your healthy diet and exercise regime. For example, is there a special occasion coming up that you want to feel your best for? 

 

What should I eat now?

As a guide, the average man needs about 2,500 calories and the average woman needs 2,000 calories a day to maintain their weight. If you’ve been eating a lower calorie diet and you've now reached a healthy weight, you may want to increase your calorie intake. But do it by small amounts to avoid putting on weight again and remember to keep active.

More weight to lose?

“When we look at people who lose weight successfully, the lessons are clear,” says Dr Andrew Brewster, a GP with a special interest in obesity and weight management. “A combination of diet changes and changes to their level of physical activity is the best method. The key is making small changes that you can keep for life, rather than drastic changes that you only stick to for a few weeks.

“You don’t need to achieve a healthy weight overnight. Losing even a few kilos can make a huge difference to the health of someone who is overweight.”

You can check the weight range that is healthy for you by using our Healthy weight calculator Set a realistic target. Give yourself enough time to work towards your goal – the safe rate of weight loss is between 1lb and 2lb (0.5kg and 1kg) a week.

Download the new NHS 12-week weight loss guide.

 

Healthy food swaps

To start, you might decide to swap just one high-calorie snack a day with something healthier. For example, you could have a smoothie or a piece of fruit instead of a morning pastry. Or you could choose a drink that's lower in fat, sugar or alcohol and therefore contains fewer calories. For example, you could swap a sugary, fizzy drink for sparkling water with a slice of lemon. You can learn more about small, healthy changes to your diet by reading Healthy food swaps On the whole, eating less while maintaining a balanced diet and being more active will keep weight off.

You can also find lots of information on eating a healthy, balanced diet in Food & Diet

Exercise

 

Adults are advised to do 150 minutes of physical activity every week. Read more about activity guidelines for adults and older adults. 

When it comes to physical activity, find ways to fit more movement into your day. It’s recommended that adults between 19 and 64 get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity – such as fast walking or cycling – every week. If you are new to activity then you should try to build up to this amount gradually. For more information, see Physical Activity Guidelines For Adults

Being physically active is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. People who do regular activity have a lower risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and stroke.

For many, brisk walking is a great way to fit activity into daily life. Learn more in  the 10,000 steps challenge.

There's more information and advice on getting active in Fitness.

Stick to the changes 

 

Once you’ve identified the lifestyle changes you want to make, give yourself time to make them part of your life.

At some point, the weight loss that results from these changes will stop and your weight will stabilise. But it’s important to remember that if you want to maintain your new, healthier weight, you need to stick to the changes.

“This is where many people slip up,” says Dr Brewster. “They feel as though the changes they’ve made 'aren’t working any more', and so they go back to old habits. In fact, the changes are working, as they are keeping you at your new weight. If you let go of them, you’ll put weight back on.

“Really get those changes set into your lifestyle. Once you’ve done that and your weight has stayed the same for a while, if you’re still not a healthy weight you can think about another set of small changes.

“That’s the step-by-step method that will give you the best chance of achieving a healthy weight long term.”

Article Souce:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/Pages/keep-weight-off.aspx#physical

Last reviewed: 22/02/2013
Next review due: 22/02/2015

Get the Body of Your Dreams with Fat Loss Factor Principles

Fat Loss Factor contains guidelines for a quick healthy lifestyle plan that can help anyone in any physical condition to lose unwanted belly fat. From the first principle of preparing for success to the last one, FLF implements a lifestyle of fitness, eating right for your body, and the mental attitude that it takes to reach your goal weight. The book is chock full of practical, down to earth advice.

Fat Loss Factor starts by measuring your basic statistics including weight, and body fat percentage. You are also asked to get photographs of yourself at the start so you can monitor your progress through the program. You’re advised to check your clothing at the beginning too, because you’ll likely find it to fit more loosely as you apply the principles of the program. Waist measurements are important too: women should ideally be around thirty two inches while a thirty five inch waist is ideal for men.

The program doesn’t take a miracle approach to get what it promises: a lean, healthy body that you can be proud of. These goals are reached through the consistent practice of proven principles of fitness and health. For example, the book stipulates early on that a change in eating habits is essential to your physical goals. Eating healthy foods that promote fat loss, metabolism, and energy is equally important to following the exercise regimen prescribed in the book.

Once your body is cleansed and fueled by natural foods, you are introduced into some basic fat loss principles for exercise. According to the book, building muscle is essential to burning fat. That’s right, you won’t need any diet pills or other trendy supplements to get the body you want. The book explains how muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, giving you the ability to burn fat even when you’re not working out. By working in sets and supersets, Fat Loss Factor guides you through basic exercises that will build the muscle you need without bulking up.

By the time you reach the fourth principle of fat loss, you will find out that traditional cardiovascular routines are not what you want to do for your exercise. Citing scientific research from around the world, Fat Loss Factor urges exercising in bursts or what is called burst training. By alternating between high intensity and low intensity intervals, your body burns more fat and your workout is much shorter!

Readers will find Fat Loss Factor an entertaining and informative read that will motivate them to avoid weight loss and fitness gadgets and gimmicks and steer them toward practical fat loss methods that work.

Have a look at Fat Loss Factor for yourself