It’s not too late to start your summer fitness weight loss
Summer always seems to catch some of us by surprise. If you are above your ideal summer weight, there’s still time to lose that extra body fat before summer actually ends.
Combine a healthy diet with exercise
A healthy diet is always a good idea, but it’s especially important if you’re going to be embarking on a strict weight loss fitness program. You are likely to be putting your body under a lot of pressure, in a short space of time, to get that perfect summer body.
A good diet is essential for weight loss for two reasons. The first is that there is no point in trying to get rid of your fat with exercise if you are just going to be putting it back on again with bad eating habits. The second is that you need to balance energy input with energy output. Your body requires that you put healthy food into it or else you won’t have the energy to burn away your fat.
Reasons that exercise is good for weight loss
It is well known that exercise is a great way to lose weight, but let’s take a look at some of the reasons why an exercise-heavy weight loss fitness program has such a high success rate.
1. Put that stored fat to good use
Exercise mobilises stored fat and increases fat oxidation. This means that all of your excess body fat that is just sitting on your belly and thighs is burned to create energy, reducing those pockets of fat that just won’t seem to go away.
2. The bigger you are, the faster you’ll lose weight
Studies have shown that it’s easier for people with larger amounts of excess weight to lose it faster. Aerobic style exercise like running, cycling or even a brisk walk is far more effective for people with an above average weight than for those who are already quite slim, though it will work for them too.
3. Muscles use more energy than fat
With visits to your local gym or health club, like Virgin Active, you can convert your excess fat into muscle. Activities like weight lifting increase your lean body mass and your new, larger muscles will need more energy to operate, and in turn will burn more fat.
4. Your body will start to burn fat even when you’re not exercising
Constant exercise is also known to raise your resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the amount of energy your body uses to make sure that its ongoing processes continue, even when you are asleep. If you keep a constant exercise regime, you can even lose some weight when not exercising as energy is used to keep you breathing, your heart beating and your stomach digesting, while the rest of your body is resting.
5. Get thinner even if your weight doesn’t change
Something to remember about exercise is that even if you are struggling to lose weight, you will still be losing centimetres as your body fat is turned into muscle. It is important to realise that muscle is leaner but heavier than fat, therefore making a visual difference to your appearance rather than to your weight.
If you are determined to lose weight before heading to the beach in your revealing bikini, then it’s time to start eating properly and integrating a weight loss workout routine exercise into your daily schedule. Contact your local Virgin Active Branch for more in depth information regarding the best exercise for weight loss.
