Exercise is an essential part of any weight loss programme. You may be able to lose some weight without exercising but if you want to get into excellent shape you will need to do some form of exercise. Many people lose weight by starving themselves or doing the wrong type of exercise. This may help you to lose some weight initially but that doesn’t mean you are getting into better shape. Besides helping you lose weight, exercise helps you maintain your health in other ways.

1. Weight training preserves lean muscle mass
If you don’t do some form of resistance training to firm up and to preserve the muscle tissue that you have then your weight loss programme may cause you to lose muscle as well a s fat. This is a huge mistake because it is your muscle that helps you to burn fat.

2. Exercise increases the calories burned.
When your muscles are firm and solid, your metabolism is higher which means you are going to burn more calories (not just when training, but more importantly when you are at rest). This also means that your energy levels will be higher. Also it is this resistance training that reshapes the body also.

3. Exercise helps control your appetite.
Proper exercise helps your blood sugar levels to remain more even. When sugar levels are even you have less trouble with hunger.

4. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself.
Exercise releases endorphins (‘feel good’ hormones) in your brain.

5. If you exercise regularly you will lose more weight and keep it off.
Research shows that the people that are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off the ones that have a regular exercise plan as part of their lifestyle. The best way to stick with an exercise plan is to find something you like to do. Exercise has many benefits. One thing is for sure, if you want to lose weight and keep it off, exercise will have to become a regular part of your lifestyle.