What does increasing your activity do for you? - Part 2

Counteracts the problems caused by excess weight

Exercise can help the physical and psychological effects of being overweight. For example it can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve your carbohydrate metabolism

Preserves the body's muscle

Your body loses both muscle and fat when you lose weight. The aim is to maximize fat loss and minimize muscle loss. Combining exercise with reduced-calorie diet does this more effectively than diet alone.

What does increasing your activity do for you? - Part 1

Burns Calories

This may be its least important benefit as it takes a tremendous amount of exercise to actually lose one pound of weight. For example, you need to walk for 18 hours and 15 minutes with a speed of 4km/hr to lose just 1 lb. Be careful to avoid feeling that a modest amount of exercise entitles yo to a more calories at the table. You must be sure to avoid eating more calories than what your exercise expended.

Tips for Healthy Eating

Eat a variety of foods

Eating a variety of foods, will help you to get the energy, protein, vitmins, minerals, and fiber you need for good health

Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol

Diets that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol may reduce your risk of heart attack and certain types of cancer. Fat contains more than twice the calories of an equal amount of carbohydrates or protein, so a diet low in fat can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Choose a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits and grains

These foods provide the essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and complex carbohydrates. Since these are naturally low in dietary fat, they can help lower your intake of fat.

Use sugars only in moderation

A diet that includes high amounts of sugar has too many calories and may not provide the nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Too much sugar can also contribute to tooth decay.

Use salt in moderation

A diet that is low in sodium can help reduce your risk og high blood pressure.

If your drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation

Alcoholic beverages add calories, but provide little nutrition.