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Physical Health is Attainable Through Proper Nutrition and
Exercise By Declan Tobin Obesity
is epidemic in this country
for both children and adults.
The invention of television,
video games, and convenient
appliances help to influence
us to be sedentary. Obesity
can create such problems as
Diabetes, Heart Disease, Lung
problems and circulation problems.
Obesity also can sap your
strength. So the cycle goes
you are obese, you tire easily
so you rest, a lot. You get
up and move and you become
tired and you rest again.
Climbing stairs is nothing
less then difficult, going
a few steps can make you breathless.
Joint problems also can be
caused or aggravated by obesity.
They say no pain, gain. I
say if there is pain rest,
you will gain nothing if you
injure yourself. This is why
it is wise to get a complete
physical and the approval
of your physician before beginning
any exercise or nutrition
program. Caring for yourself
physically by seeing a doctor
regularly, getting the proper
rest, and eating right will
prolong your life and in the
long run you will feel better.
Exercise is imperative to
help you become fit however
if your goal is also weight
loss, you need to be burning
more calories than what you
take in. For example if you
are eating a 1800 calorie
diet be sure that whatever
exercise regime you choose
causes you to burn more than
those 1800 calories in a day.
There are many excellent books
and programs that can help
with this. Physical fitness
is not accomplished with exercise
alone you also need to eat
healthy. Nutrition centers
exist almost everywhere and
will give you good sound advice.
Before you try a particular
center or program you really
need to check with your doctor.
There are all sorts of diets
out there such as Atkins,
Slim Fast, among others. Fad
diets like the grapefruit
diet and the cabbage soup
diet work for a time but once
you go off of it, you can
gain the weight back and then
some. Not every diet is good
for everyone. The best food
plan is one that teaches you
how to eat and what to eat.
It would also include some
of your favorite foods and
dining out. Also included
should be teaching strategies
that will help you maintain
your weight loss once you
meet your goal. When I think
of exercise equipment, I see
all kinds of infomercials
in my head. There is the BowFlex,
the Total Gym, and The Gazelle
to name just a few. Nautilus
is another brand. Each type
of equipment claims it will
help you attain the figure
of your dreams and some even
give you a guarantee. The
best is not necessarily the
most well known or expensive.
The best equipment is the
equipment that works for you.
The many types of equipment
available are almost limitless.
Some equipment targets specific
areas of the body and some
have all kinds of attachments
and work all muscle groups.
Ab rollers, ab swings, and
ab cruncher target the abdominal
areas. Other types of fitness
equipment include ellipticals
(simulate motion of walking
skiing), cycling (stationery
and road), rowing machines,
trampolines, treadmills and
home gyms. By themselves they
can work but the best equipment
is that which helps you work
all major muscle groups. Walking
and swimming are probably
two of the best exercises
for fitness. Inclement weather
can prevent you from walking
(unless you live near an enclosed
mall) and there may not be
a pool to use if you don’t
have a YMCA or other facility
that will allow use of their
pool. Along came fitness centers
for both men and women. There
are four major types of exercises
that when done correctly can
help you achieve weight loss
and/or fitness. Aerobic and
cardio exercises get your
heart rate up and teaches
proper breathing techniques.
Strength training and resistance
training helps to strengthen
and tone your muscles. The
ideal program would incorporate
these exercises into their
programs. Most gyms or health
centers offer various classes
teaching these exercises individually.
Until the past few years if
women wanted to work out they
had to go to gyms attended
by men as well. There was
little attempt to facilitate
women’s needs specifically.
There are now women’s centers
that address and meet the
unique needs of women and
there are still gyms and clubs
where both men and women still
go. Two of the best-known
women’s health centers are
Curves and Healthy Inspirations.
Both have circuit training
that is a combination of all
forms of exercise by the use
of various machines and step
exercises. Both support the
women in their quest for health
and fitness. Working out doesn’t
have to be difficult or tedious.
What is a workout? Workouts
are periods of sustained exercise
designed to increase our fitness,
strength, or endurance. You
can go to a club and workout
with a trainer, pay your dues
and then find a thousand reasons
why you can’t make it or you
can buy expensive home gym
equipment to toss your dirty
clothes on (hey it keeps them
off the floor.) The key to
sticking with any program
is motivation. There are as
has been mentioned gyms and
clubs where people can go
to exercise. If you aren’t
motivated within yourself
to do it, you will slack off
and eventually give up. This
is the one thing that you
can do for yourself. The clubs
and gyms are fine if they
motivate you and not judge
you, if they teach how to
get through cravings and crisis
times where your old habits
may scream for you have a
comfort food. The best thing
for clubs and gyms to work
toward is convincing patrons
that they are well worth the
effort, the time, and care
to become healthy individuals.
All that aside, it is imperative
to learn how to use fitness
equipment properly, what clothes
and shoes maybe appropriate
for the particular program,
and performing the exercises
properly. Safety is important
as well. When weight lifting
always have a spotter available
when necessary. Know your
limits. Overdoing exercise
can cause injury and other
problems. Your body will tell
you when it is becoming over-stressed.
The bottom line is this; you
are worth the time and effort
it will take to become healthy
and fit. Exercise and healthy
eating can help prevent or
reduce the effects of such
diseases as Diabetes, Heart
Disease, and Arthritis. Most
people just need the right
motivation. What you don’t
know about food and nutrition
or exercise you can learn,
read books and visit various
gyms or clubs to see what
help they may be able to offer.
You can also go online to
find some of this information.
Know your goal, know you are
worth the effort, and know
this as well; you are not
alone. About The Author Declan
Tobin is a successful freelance
writer providing tips and
advice for consumers purchasing
Fitness Equipment, Treadmills
and Weight Benches . His numerous
articles offer tips and valuable
insight on fitness. |
