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Using Exercise to Lose Weight

809234_abdomens.jpgYou have to be pretty dedicated to lose weight through exercise alone.

I remember how astonished I was when I first worked out that at 3500 calories a pound you have to run more than a marathon to lose a single pound of fat!

That’s why going to the gym and then rewarding yourself with a snack is counter-productive – you will probably eat more calories than you use up.

Yet, exercise is still good for weight loss for many reasons :-

  1. every calorie counts whether it’s 10 or 1000 – better to use them than not use them
  2. it helps build muscle and muscles burn calories even when you are at rest – your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories) increases
  3. it improves your mood and general sense of well-being – so you are better able to avoid comfort eating
  4. it keeps you occupied and away from the fridge
  5. if you exercise enough, you can eat just a little more and still lose weight. This helps to prevent a sense of deprivation
  6. you will keep your muscles and skin in better condition as you lose weight and are less likely to lose muscle tissue and tone

The best way to lose weight is to combine exercise with healthy eating so that you exercise a bit more (say 250 calories worth of exercise a day) and eat a bit less than you need at your normal (non-exercise) level of activity (say 250 calories) – that way you’ll steadily lose about 1lb a week without too much hardship.

February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Lose Weight 

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One Response to “Using Exercise to Lose Weight”

  1. Wayne on January 31st, 2009

    Wayne…

    This post Using Exercise to Lose Weight | Simply Fitness is just the kind of information I am looking for. I am a colon cancer survivor, so all health issues have become of great concern to me. Just so you know, I found it while looking up exercise l…

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