The Exercise Edge
People who are physically active are more successful at losing—and keeping off—extra pounds of body fat. Physical activity appears to be key in maintaining a healthy weight.
- Physical activity burns energy. When you burn more than you consume, your body uses its energy stores, and you lose weight.
- Physical activity helps you maintain muscle while you lose body fat. On a weight-loss diet with no exercise, you lose fat, but also, the more metabolically active lean tissue.
- Exercise increases your basal metabolic rate for several hours, even after you stop.
- Physical activity helps relieve stress.
- Regular exercise also has many long term health benefits - even without weight loss!
How to Get Started With Exercise...and Keep it Going!
Variety - Enjoy different activities to exercise different muscles. Walking, dancing, swimming, biking, jogging, stretching, calisthenics, gardening and even housework, are examples of ways to get some activity in your life.
Balance - Do some cardiovascular endurance exercises as well as activity which builds muscular strength.
Moderation - Don't overdo. Aim for 30 - 45 minutes of moderate exercise in your daily routine, most days of the week.
Don't Have Time? Try These:
- Get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning, and take a brisk walk to start your day.
- Take stairs instead of the elevator.
- Park farther away, get off the bus earlier, or skip the bus altogether and walk to class.
- Give yourself at least 5 minutes of exercise for every hour of computer time.
- Rent an exercise video and work out with it rather than watch TV.
