2.#1 Exercise Helps You Lose Weight and Maintain Weight Loss
You know this already. You know that exercise burns calories. The more you exercise, the more calories you burn. A pound is 3,500 calories. So for every 3,500 calories you burn, you lose a pound. Initially, when you begin exercising you may see the weight fall off. This is because you’re burning fat stores. If you add strength training to your workouts, you’ll also burn more calories throughout your day because your muscles need extra calories to repair themselves.
The great news is that all exercise burns calories. True, some burn more than others. You’ll burn more calories if you go cross-country skiing than if you play a game of golf. However, the bottom line is thatyou’re burning calories and moving your body. Do that every day and you’ll lose weight and control weight gain.
An Example of a Simple Weight Loss Exercise…
Let’s talk about walking forexercise. If you haven’texercised in a while, or ever, walking is a great place to start. You know you can walk. It’s anexercise that allows you theconfidence to start. As you beginto improve your health andfitness you can add exercises toyour routine or increase yourfitness walking goals.
An hour of walking each day, at a four mile per hour pace (15 minute miles) burns between 250 and 300 calories. Just this and you’d lose a pound every 14 days. That’s two pounds or more a month and all you have to do is walk.
Tip – If your goal is to lose weight or maintain your weight, don’t exercise hungry or you might eat more after the workout than you burned. Maintain your caloric intake so you’re able to burn more than you consume.