PUMP IT UP!

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute:

“Being physically active and eating fewer calories will help you lose weight and keep the weight off over time.

While people vary quite a bit in the amount of physical activity they need for weight control, many can maintain their weight by doing 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking.

People who want to lose a large amount of weight (more than 5 percent of their body weight)—and people who want to keep off the weight that they’ve lost—may need to be physically active for more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week.” (www.nhlbi.nih.gov)

Specifics about types of exercises:

Cardiovascular, aerobic, exercises are best. These exercises include: walking, jogging, jumping rope, cycling, skating, low-impact aerobics, water aerobics. They are steady activities that use large muscle groups. They strengthen your lungs and heart and improve the movement of oxygen.

Stretching and yoga exercises help prevent injury and muscle strain. They help increase one’s range of motion and flexibility. These exercises also prepare the mind and body for more strenuous work. Since we know that anxiety, depression, worry, stress, and exhaustion can increase risk for heart disease, yoga and similar exercises that include stretching, slow movement, and meditation can help calm the mind, soothe the body, and increase the mood.

Get moving…your life may depend on it.