exercise

It’s Never Too Late To Exercise

January 25, 2017 by

Just ask Edna who’s 94 and still keeping fit and healthy at 94.

Exercise isn’t just for weight loss: it helps with agility, flexibility, balance, strength and mental acuity amongst other things.

If you haven’t exercised for a while:
1. check with your doctor that there’s no medical hindrance to starting to exercise
2. start slow – warm up and don’t push yourself too hard at first
3. build the consistency habit before focusing on anything else – once you get into the routine of moving more then you can extend yourself and build up more

Why not hear what Edna has to say:
https://www.facebook.com/7newssydney/videos/1511155828908545/

So, what’s really stopping you?

What Exercise is Best For Weight Loss?

October 22, 2014 by mello

Being overweight clearly has its share of health issues. About 300,000 people die each year due to weight or obesity related complications according to reports. People with a BMI or body mass index of 25-29 are, according to many experts, considered overweight. More than 30 on the BMI scale and you are classified as obese. Obesity now affects over 25% of the US population and more and more people are realizing that obesity kills.

People that are overweight struggle with sleep problems, breathing problems, susceptibility to disease and illness and chronic fatigue – not to mention low self-esteem because the of society norms and the media which portrays people who are obese as abnormal and those that are skinny as the ideal.

Obesity is a result of a number of causes.

One of them is eating more than the body is breaking down through the normal metabolic function. This causes excess fat to accumulate in many cases in the tummy area and causes someone to be overweight.
Some people don’t eat copious meals and snacks but they eat the wrong kinds of foods – calorie-rich foods with little nutritional value. The result is a satisfied mouth but a body that can’t cope with all that poor quality food.
Then there are people that are overweight not because they over-eat, but because they have a genetic malfunction which causes their overall body metabolism to slow and food to be digested slowly.
Others get overweight because of a combination of all of the above.
Oh and there is the sedentary life factor. This means a life that is pretty much devoid of exercise and movement. There are some exercises that one can do no matter their starting point to battle weight gain.

Any activity is the best way to start an exercise plan.

If you can run, go for it if you have a medical clearance.
If you can walk, you can start by walking anywhere for as long as you can and keep going for longer each time.
Some people like the gym and that can be great for variety, all weather conditions and for some social interaction.
If you can’t do any of those, start with something you can do. A couple of weights (cans of beans will do it) and start lifting them as often as you can. Sitting up and down if you can.
Use your imagination and just push a tad beyond what’s comfortable for you.

Hey, I’m talking from experience. I have hated exercise. Yet I’m doing more movement each day just to get going. I know from when I was smaller that my body actually enjoys exercise and loves being outdoors and functioning as it was meant to. It’s my mind that doesn’t like it! But I’m pushing myself and every day gets a little easier.

There is no growth (or weight loss) by staying in your comfort zone!

The One Fast Way To Lose Weight

October 19, 2014 by

Here comes the news some of you did not want to hear:

There is NO quick-fix solution to losing weight.

There is also no ONE WAY to lose weight.

If there were then we would all be able to lose any amount of weight we desired at any time. But patently that is not the case. And because it is not the case there is a multi-million dollar industry all too ready to take your money by providing what they claim is the solution to weight loss.

Now there are some products that will work for a period. Diet pills, supplements, programs, methods, systems – you name it – they will work. For some people. Not all people. And possibly not you.

Exercise is great. If you can’t do it yourself there are thousands of products that will help you – ab-rollers, rowing machines, cross-fit trainers, kettlebell kits and so one. They will work. For some people. Maybe not you.

The ONLY solution to consistently lose your excess weight and keep it off for the long-term is to combine a sound nutritional diet full of fresh foods with a properly designed exercise program that stimulates the necessary hormonal and metabolic response within your body. Both your food intake and your exercise plan are important for you to get this right.

There have been studies done that divided participants into a diet-only group and an exercise/diet group. Both groups made good progress in losing weight yet the diet-only group lost significantly LESS fat than the diet with exercise combined group.

So next time you’re inclined to think you can lose weight with diet only or exercise only remember that a blend of both is far more effective.

In terms of food, the more unprocessed natural produce you can include in your diet the better.

If your diet now consists predominantly of manufactured products like ready-made dinners or take-home meals or big quantities of snacks like chips and chocolates or drinks like Cola then you are going to have to switch your food choices. No question. Did you ever watch “You Are What You Eat?” It clearly made real what people had been eating and in what volumes. Laying a week’s worth of what has gone in your belly onto a table is sobering stuff. Watch the video here or buy the book here You Are What You Eat: The Plan That Will Change Your Life. Definitely worthwhile.

So what is unprocessed natural food? True unprocessed natural foods are hard to come by. For example you couldn’t have milk unless it was raw or butter because it has be processed to be separated from the milk itself. But the least processed and most natural is what you are better to aim for. What we want to avoid are lots of additives that add to our weight!

Increase these and decrease all the junk food and other stuff you know is not healthy. Fresh fruit and vegetables. Meat with fat trimmed. Chicken with no skin. Fish. Condiments, herbs and sauces (in moderate quantities). Nuts, seeds, lentils. Look up the advice provided by the government and dietitians. But really, the closer your food intake is based on foods which have had the least processing done the more nutritional benefit they will have.

At the supermarket, pick up most of your groceries from the fresh fruit and veg section, the meat section, the seafood section and the dairy section. Go around the outside aisles to shop. The inner aisles is where the less healthy stuff sits waiting for you!