Controlling your weight with diet AND exercise

The latest statistics say nearly 2/3 of adults are overweight or obese. The government recommends at least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical exercise. Yet, with so many people overweight, is 30 minutes enough?

Watching calories is not enough

When most people think of losing weight, they immediately think of counting calories and watching what they eat. When study after study shows the majority of Americans overweight, another very important factor comes into play—Exercise.

Adding daily exercise to your daily routine is vital to not only losing weight, but keeping it off. Exercise is a habit that you need to pick up, period.

Jenny Craig has selected Paulette Griffis, 38, of Chula Vista, Calilf. for the latest weight loss profiles. She is 5-foot-3 and her starting weight in February was 186 pounds. Her daily calorie intake is usually 1,200 calories per day and some weeks 1,500 calories per day.

About 6 weeks into the weight loss program, she became very frustrated because despite the 1,200 calories per day diet, her weight was not coming off.

So, her solution was to step up the intensity of her exercise. She does about 45 minutes a day on the elliptical trainer–sweating. She also walks during her 30-minute lunch break.

Some experts are saying that those trying to prevent weight gain should do 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical exercise every day.

The fact is that losing weight is hard work! You shouldn’t expect the weight to just fall off when you watch your calorie intake. It will need a nudge, maybe a shove to go away. Our metabolism starts dropping incrementally every year, so the longer you wait to start losing weight, the harder it will be.

So, the next time that you say you need to lose weight, try adding some form of daily exercise to your routine. If you are not used to exercising, try just walking and move up from there.

Being overweight or obese has many added health risks and you will have a much more enjoyable life if you are healthy and within your normal weight range.

For more information on weight loss programs and helpful resources for losing weight, visit the Weight Loss Advisory.