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Importance of Exercise While Dieting
The success of any weight loss program is dependent upon the willingness of the person trying to lose weight to also adapt to a new healthier lifestyle. The change doesn't need to be extreme, but it does need to occur in order to help you lose the weight and most importantly, to help you keep it off.
Statistics prove that 50 percent of the weight lost while dieting without exercise will be muscle tissue and water weight. In order to effectively lose weight and for long term results, proper exercise must be added to your weight loss program in order for the body to be able to utilize stored fat for energy.
While many infomercials would like you to believe there is a magic pill, diet or machine that will give you dramatic weight loss results, the fact is that you need a healthy diet and exercise in order to see real and substantial weight loss.
Even prescription diet pills have their limits. They are not intended to be a cure, but rather a kick start on the path to weight loss. In order to get the maximum effect from prescription weight loss medications, a healthy diet and graded exercise program are needed.
Benefits of Exercise
Exercise while dieting is not only needed, but a smart thing to do for your body in general. Increased physical activity, along with a healthy diet can help you:
Raise endorphin levels which will make you feel good overall
Speed up your metabolism
Slow down the aging process
Is an effective tool against depression
Lower your blood pressure
Improve your immune system
Increase your energy in everyday activities
Contribute to overall good health, especially your heart health
Start Small and Increase Over Time
It is important that you don't overdo it. If you have spent the last year preparing for the couch potato Olympics, then you should start adding exercise with small steps. Jumping from no exercise to too much exercise can not only be dangerous, but can also help deteriorate your motivation to stick to your lifestyle change.
Instead, start taking a walk every other day, gradually increasing the time of your walk and the frequency of your walks. Instead of putting things needing to go upstairs in a pile to take up all at once, take each item up as needed. There are many ways to add small increases in physical activity to your daily life without overdoing it.
And as you feel the benefits you will be able to gradually keep increasing your activity throughout the day to a level that will be effective in helping you lose the weight and keep it off.
It is important that you discuss any exercise program with your doctor before adding it to your routine. Your doctor can also help by making suggestions for your fitness routine that are safe and effective for you as an individual.
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