resistance training

If, like many people, you would like to lose weight and get into better shape, then it really is quite simple (and achievable). In order to lose weight you must consume fewer calories by eating and drinking than you burn off as a result of physical activity. If you use up more calories than you consume on a regular basis then your weight will reduce. There is no magic pill or diet supplement that will alter that simple fact.

So if you are after weight loss then you can eat and drink less (diet), use up more calories (exercise) – or both. Doing both simultaneously is, without any shadow of a doubt, the best option. Regular physical exercise will increase your metabolic rate – the speed at which you burn calories. If you take exercise on a regular and consistent basis then your increased metabolic rate will mean that you burn off calories more quickly even when you’re not taking exercise – for example, when you’re typing on your computer, sitting watching the TV – even when you’re sleeping.

Of course, the very thought of exercising can be off-putting for many people – but there’s no reason to avoid exercise, it needn’t involve getting all hot, sweaty and out of breath. Walking is one of the very best forms of exercise that you can take part in, and it’s something which the majority of us do on a daily basis anyway. You just need to walk a little more often and a little further and you will soon reap the rewards – and there are many health benefits available to those who walk on a regular basis.

According to health and fitness experts we should all be aiming to take around 10,000 steps daily. That’s roughly equal to a distance of between four and a half and five miles for most people. It does sound like a fair old distance – but it’s a lot easier to accomplish than you might think. Don’t forget – 10,000 steps is the total distance, including the normal walking that you do as you go about your daily business anyway. You already have a base to build upon.

Leave the car at home and walk to work – or get off the bus a couple of stops early and finish the last part of your journey on foot. If you do take the car then just park it in a corner of the parking lot that’s well away from the entrance so that you have a greater distance to walk. Use the stairs instead of taking the lift. Take a fifteen minute walk at lunch time. It soon adds up.

A good pair of comfortable shoes are all you need to get started with a walking exercise program – no other equipment is required. However, you might find a pedometer to be a worthwhile investment – especially if most of your walking is divided into short sessions throughout the day. It will track your results in terms of the number of steps taken, the total distance covered and the number of calories burned – whichever you find most interesting. This should help you to stay motivated.

An mp3 player might be a good idea if you don’t already have one. The time and the miles will pass much more quickly when you’re walking along listening to your favorite tunes.

Finally, you might want to look at how some of the latest fitness shoes – such as Reebok Easy Tones, Skecher’s Shape Ups or Fitflops – can help to boost the efficiency of your walking to lose weight exercise program. All of these claim to increase the amount of work which you do during normal walking activity – which increases the return on your investment of time and energy.