Exercise While You Watch Pounds Dropping

Exercise - “How much is enough?”, is probably a question that all of us may have. There is one thing certain that if you consider a sedentary lifestyle, it is almost having the same risk of dying prematurely as a person who smokes a pack a day. It may be hard to believe but a sedentary lifestyle is even more of a health threat than high blood pressure, obesity, family history of disease, or high cholesterol. Whatever your weight or health goals are, the first and foremost thing you need to commit to is to exercise. But the question is, how much?

Here’s a little “secret” I learned. Each one of us should have a minimum goal to burn 140 calories or more a day, or about 1,000 calories a week. That is an equivalent of a 30-minute moderate activity daily that can boost your heart rate to the level of brisk walking. Strength-training sessions a week to build and maintain muscles are a must, too. The more you do, the more vigorous the workout, the greater the benefits to your health. However, if you have a chronic disease or you are over 40 years old, I recommend you consult your physician before beginning any form of an exercise program.

Of course, if you are intending to lose weight like I do, there is a need to amp up the exercise quotient even more. But, setting realistic goals is a must. For myself, I have to take into account where I am today. I used to be able to exercise everyday for at least 1 hour, but due to the hectic schedule I have on a daily basis, I have gone through months of not doing it or down to just once a month. I have now written down mini-goals of starting again with 3-4 times a week, which can include a simple 20-minute walk around the neighborhood with our beautiful puppy, Mesa.

I suggest you start looking at what you are currently doing as far as being active. It may not be fun to admit that you have been lazy with exercising, but that is the first step to getting to where you want to be health-wise. We are what we eat and do, but if you take the first step of setting a goal and making it realistic, there is no reason that a daily activity can’t truly be a part of your life.

As a reminder, do not go to the gym five hours from your last meal. The last time I did that, I almost passed out just after a 50-minute session with a personal trainer. I learned that a fruit or a protein supplement before an exercise is the best. I have used “PRO”, a protein supplement by Agel, which comes in Chocolate Truffle flavor. Wow, talk about satisfying a sweet craving! This is packed with the 9 essential amino acids that give athletes or people like me an edge by metabolizing them directly into the muscle tissue and providing an overall body conditioning.