Weight Loss - Walking

Walking is vital to any weight loss program. Its because walking is something that, unless you suffer from a medical condition, just about anyone can do. The advantage walking has over most exercises is that it does not put any excess pressure on your joints. After all, human body is designed for walking.

How effective is walking?

Walking is an extremely beneficial form of Weight Loss Exercise as you burn calories without putting excessive pressure on your joints. The advantage of walking is that you can adjust your speed to suit your fitness level. Research has shown that brisk walking is exceptionally effective in burning fat and weight loss. If you walk for 30 min at a speed of 4 mph, you will burn 184 calories, and of course the faster you walk the more calories you would burn.

Dangers are associated with walking!

Walking is not always recommended as the first exercise program for people who are extremely obese. This is because the people who suffer from obesity could put excess pressure on their knees when walking on pavement or other hard surfaces. Also there may be some heart concerns with long brisk walking, but this applies to people who are extremely over weight or have a history of heart condition. It is therefore recommended that you always consult your doctor before starting any exercise routine, even walking.

Another concern, is for people who live in large polluted cities. Inhaling pollution has been linked with respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

Children & Obesity

In simple terms, obesity is caused when the body stores excessive calories. Obesity in civilized countries is reaching epidemic proportions. What is worrying is that the children too are now more obese than ever before in the history of man kind!

Child Obesity and Weight Loss

Calories and Weight Loss

Weight loss depends on the amount of calorie intake. Calories are used by the body to perform its day-to-day functions. However, when the calories taken in is greater than the energy burnt, then the excess calories are stored as fat. The most common reasons for excessive consumption of calories are:

Psychological
Emotional
Lack of knowledge
Habit

calories and weight loss

Weight loss plans

There are a number of VERY dangerous diet plans used to target weight loss. A dangerous, or misleading, diet is one which provides "rapid" result. Remember, in order for a diet to be effective and safe, your body needs time to adjust to the change in your lifestyle. This is because rapid dieting will almost always have health consequences, and in fact research has also shown that as soon as your body adjusts to the diet, you will start to put on weight at even a higher rate than before.

Weight loss diet

Weight Loss plans to be avoided

For legal reasons we are unable to actually name dangerous or misleading weight loss diets, however, the following is a list which should help you identify these diets for yourself.

Any diet that cuts out any essential food groups (Specially carbohydrates!)
Any diet that promises or guarantees fast result
Any diet that involves you drinking only liquid food.
Any diet that involves you buying processed and ready made "food substitutes".

Weight loss diets

Diet

The food you eat is the single most important factor in your weight loss program. Weight loss is only achieved through a healthy diet.

Weight loss diet and health

Exercise

Exercise is vital not only to a safe weight loss plan, but, is also crucial to the general operation and well being of the human body.

Weight loss exercise

Measuring Body Fat

Measuring the Body Fat is a much more accurate way of measuring how your weight loss program is going than using a bathroom scale. The bathroom scales are highly misleading!

Measure Body Fat

Swimming

Swimming is a VERY effective and safe way of burning calories. Its one of the safest ways of exercising as you do not put any excessive force on the joints.

Swimming

Walking

Walking is one of the safest form of exercise as you burn those calories without excessive wear and tear on the joints.

Walking

Pilates and Yoga

Pilates and Yoga are important to any weight loss program as they both encourage good body posture and alignment.

Pilates