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Exercise

The good news about exercise is that you really do not have to be fanatically fit to lose weight. According to calorie theory, exercise does little to promote weight loss as after all, running a mile will only burn approximately 300 kcals, equivalent to two slices of toast. However this argument misses a number of key points.

The first is that the effects of exercise are cumulative. Running a mile may burn up only 300kcals, but if you do that 3 days per week for a year, that makes 22000 kcals, which is equivalent to a weight loss of 6 kgs (nearly 1 stone) which would have otherwise been stored as fat in the body. Also the amount of calories you burn up depends on how fat or fit you are to start with. The more overweight and unfit you are, then the more benefit you will derive from small amounts of exercise.

Contrary to popular belief, moderate exercise also decreases you appetite. It appears that a degree of physical activity is necessary for appetite mechanisms to work properly. People who take no exercise have exaggerated appetites, so the weight can pile on very easily.

The most important reason why exercise is key to weight loss is its effect on your metabolic rate, which controls how fast we burn calories. According to exercise physiologists claim that most people can generate metabolic rates that are eight to en times above their resting value during sustained cycling, running or swimming. Complimenting this increase in metabolic rate is the observation that vigorous exercise will raise metabolic rate for up to fifteen hours post exercise resulting in more calories being burned.

In order to lose weight effectively it is essential to combine healthy eating practices with good levels of exercise.

For further advice on exercise or specific individual exercise plans please contact us.