These are the simple facts: a diet an exercise program is essential for successfully losing weight and maintaining weight loss. Many people who suffer from being overweight or obese have been on and off of certain diets throughout their lives. Because of this, there is significant fluctuation in what they weigh every few months or even after more than a year – things can change drastically without regular weight maintenance. So once you reach your goal weight, you may want to change your exercise program to something less intense and / or time consuming. However, if you drop the health – kick all together then you will end up having to start all over again. This is often referred to as a “roller-coaster diet.”
The good news is that you can always try . . . it is never too late to find even the simplest of exercise programs to best suit your needs. The bad news (if you consider this “bad news”) is that you must keep it up. As incentive, consider a plethora of different ways to workout, they are wide ranging and especially designed for individuals with varying kinds of workout objectives and / or special needs. The good news is, though it may be a bit difficult to motivate oneself at first, will (more likely than not) soon enjoy your workout immensely. Often it becomes a very important part of someone’s daily routine – one they would not normally sacrifice.
The endorphins released during a cardiovascular workout create a certain kind of natural high, if you will. Exercise early in the day will often keep your metabolism up, but also keep you in better spirits. The healthier you are the better you feel. And the better you feel the more you enjoy life. If you have a weight problem and decide that you want a better life, find out what you can do. You will find yourself smiling more, you will be able to do more and more active things with less and less effort on the body, you will become tired much les quickly and your body will metabolize everything you eat at a quicker rate.
When it comes to permanent weight loss, satisfactory to your desires, there is no quick fix. So you have to set your limits at first, being sure not to over exercise (in effect, weakening) your muscles. Then create challenges for your self, discover what core muscle groups you want to target and find the very best exercise equipment, DVD or gym program for you. Be sure you enjoy your workout. You do not want it to feel like a burden for you therefore you want to be sure that you can enjoy what you do in order to reach your physical goals. Based on what you need and what you enjoy most you will then make decisions about permanent maintenance. Perhaps you will workout three times per week, perhaps every day. It will all depend on your personal needs and abilities.
There are so many ways to exercise and so many people with specific, physical needs (especially when it comes to physical therapy) that this article will only be able to touch the surface. Most importantly, if you are overweight (and especially if your doctor is concerned about your weight) you should consult experts you trust for advice on how to remain as physically healthy as possible. This may be anyone from a trusted family physician, to a physical therapist, to a nutrition expert, to a personal trainer, any other kind of regular exercise and diet program suited to your specific needs, or a combination of some of the above.
Like so many things regarding your overall wellness, there are individual solutions to individual circumstances. Not every case is the same – even when the diagnosis is the same. We have learned through science that there are several kinds of treatment for many different illnesses, and the proper course of treatment depends on how the individual will respond. The same goes for physical treatment, exercise and diet.
For example: if a diabetic must adhere to a specific diet in order to remain as healthy as possible – that does not mean that the regular diet of someone who is not diabetic is wrong for them.
By the same token, someone who is disabled, on bed rest, or even wheelchair bound can not be excluded from this topic. As a matter of fact, it is almost always more important for these individuals to be sure to dedicate some time to exercise and physical therapy. The most essential thing to remember is never to over-strain your self. Do not push your limits in the beginning. If your muscles ache, sometimes it is good, but sometimes it is your body telling you that you have done too much. This is especially true if your muscles begin to tremble or shake at any time during your exercise.
The second thing to remember, especially for someone trying to loose weight, is to determine when you are strong enough, and when you are sure – challenge your self. There are certain kinds of exercise that may be too strenuous for you in the beginning, but after a while they are less taxing and will burn more calories faster. Again, it is always good to consult a personal trainer and / or nutritionists. In fact, some trainers are also nutritionists and can help you one-on-one to maintain a healthy diet and a good regular fitness program.
You can start simple, by walking or running, perhaps riding a bicycle in a flat, picturesque park trail. Or you can begin with simple Yoga, working your way up to more difficult exercises as you increase muscle strength and flexibility. If you need a cardiovascular workout there are programs both through exercise gyms and on DVD and video that can help you out. For more information on how you can get stared, read more of my articles on physical fitness.
