Losing weight is a lot harder than many people imagine. If it was easy, then the weight loss industry wouldn’t be the colossal multi-billion dollar giant that it is. Dieting is no fun whatsoever – you are required to deny yourself most of the things that you enjoy and it seems to take forever before you see any results.

If you would like to see results more quickly – and who wouldn’t – then the addition of exercise to your weight loss program makes a lot of sense. One of the great things about exercise is that, not only will you use up more calories because you are taking exercise, but the fact that you are exercising on a regular basis will boost your metabolic rate. That is to say, you will burn calories faster, even when you aren’t exercising but just carrying out your normal day to day activities. Whether you’re sitting reading the newspaper, typing on your computer, listening to your eye pod – even when you’re sound asleep – you will burn calories faster.

If you haven’t exercised for a while, or if you have any medical conditions, then be sure to have a chat with your doctor before you start any new exercise program. When it comes to what the best type of exercise is, you will hear a huge variety of suggestions. When all’s said and done, the optimum exercise plan for you is whatever you are able to do and will be able to motivate yourself to do on a consistent basis. It may be true that riding a racing bicycle around a track at an average speed of twelve miles per hour will burn more calories per hour than walking at 3.5 miles per hour or jogging at 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 very best starter exercises is walking. It’s something which needs no training or expertise and which requires no special equipment. It’s also a low impact, low injury risk workout which is suitable for all age groups and has an extremely 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 a relatively low intensity exercise mode fool you into thinking that it won’t deliver significant health benefits for you. There seems to be general agreement amongst health professionals that walking 10,000 steps each day will deliver a whole host of health 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 yourself an Omron pedometer and record exactly how many steps you take daily. 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 get up to 10,000 steps in one fell swoop. Look for ways to build walking into your day and gradually work up to the target figure. You’ll be surprised how easy it is. Walk around when you are on your mobile phone – a 15 minute long telephone call will allow you to squeeze in around about 1,000 extra steps. Get off the bus one or two stops before your final destination and finish your journey on foot. Use the stairs instead of the elevator from time to time. You will be pleasantly surprised at just how fast minor changes like this can increase your daily step count. You will be extremely happy at how quickly you will be able to both see and feel the benefits.

A comfortable pair of shoes is about the only other item of equipment that you require for your walking routine. Make sure that your shoes don’t give you blisters or cause any discomfort when you walk in them. Otherwise, it will be difficult to motivate yourself to walk further. If you want, you can make use of the latest advances in the design of exercise footwear. Shoes such as Skechers Shape Ups, Reebok Easy Tones and Fit flops sandals are all scientifically designed to raise the amount of work carried out by your lower body muscles. They maximize the effectiveness of your walking workout program and help you to tone up your lower body more rapidly.

Whatever exercise you opt for, and however you choose to accommodate it in your daily schedule, the critical 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 more quickly than by dieting alone and – most important of all – you will feel great.

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