Diet And Exercise
Our bodies are designed to eat and move. This means that diet and exercise are important in maintaining our health and wellbeing.
What Type of Diet is Best for Me?
To help you determine what type of diet would suit your situation, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want to achieve weight loss?
- Do I just need a healthy diet?
- Do I have a medical condition?
- How much exercise will I be doing?
- Do I want to train for an event?
- Do I have any food sensitivities?
The answers to these questions will help determine the type of diet plan to start researching.
How Long Should I Follow a Diet?
The most sensible approach to a new diet is to determine if it will help you meet your objective (e.g. lose so many kilos, or get more energy) and how long you think you can stick to it. Diets that work and have lasting results are ones that you don't think about going off. You just convert your current diet into a new eating plan and adopt it as part of your lifestyle.
A healthy balance of food nutrition from quality sources of protein, carbohydrates, fats will help your body operate at an optimum level, and will reduce the craving for sugary, fatty and processed foods. These are responsible for weight gain, lack of energy and overall reduced health.
How Much Exercise Should I Do?
We have all become more sedentary over the years, sitting down to watch television, work on the computer, play games, drive our cars, or watch sport. The results of all this sitting has lead to greater obesity and overeating. We get less fresh air, move our muscles less, pump less blood through our heart, and reduce our overall fitness.
The secret of exercise is balance. Following a healthy diet gives your body fuel to go about everyday activities with energy and enthusiasm. Exercise has been described as the spark to get you going. The amount of exercise you do depends on your goals and the outcome you want from a new diet and exercise plan. The important first step is getting up off the couch and starting.
What Exercise is Best for Me?
If you haven't exercised for some time, then gentle walking for a short time (15-20 minutes) each day will get you started. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting to exercise. If you have been unwell or are out of shape, take things slowly. Mini trampolines can be a good way just to get your body moving. You can lightly bounce or just walk on the spot, without risk of jarring your back, knees or ankles.
If you are already doing light exercise and now want to start training for an event, such as a charity walk or run, then get advice from a health professional about how to stage your exercise program. If you have taken up weight lifting and are trying to lose body fat, then you will be training every second day and exercising the other days.
