Exercise plus sensible eating = weight loss
Our expert Lucy Wyndham-Read discusses the importance of being active, and suggests some simple exercises we can do anywhere to help us get into better shape as the holiday season approaches.
You need to upgrade your Flash Player and/or enable Javascript
Transcript
Presenter - We're talking here about diet as well, aren't we? Exercise is all well and good but you've also got to cut down your intake of food – not overeat, not huge portions?
Lucy - It's both. Definitely. As we discussed earlier, I think portion sizes now – and I'm sure that's why we're becoming more and more obese – everything is just bigger, isn't it? It's all supersize this...
Presenter - Huge burgers...
Lucy - Ridiculous size and that's an extra, 500, 600 calories. And then, if we're not exercising, you know, it's not rocket science, it's easy to see why we're getting bigger and bigger. It's just about really thinking, just eat sensibly and exercise.
Presenter - You mentioned power walking just now. What is power walking for people who don't know?
Lucy - Power walking is just walking faster than you would normally. It's using your arms and it's quite good to use little hand weights, which means you get a really good sort of arm exercise.
Presenter - What dumbbells or something?
Lucy - Yes, tiny little weights. It's not that funny walk where they kind of lock your joints out; it's just walking a little bit faster than you would normally. It's the second most calorific-burning exercise there is, the first being cross-country skiing, and, if you think about it, it's a very similar movement, but we don't have the resistance of the snow.
Lucy - You can do power walking anywhere and, as I say, you've got no impact, it's very gentle on the joints, it's a very easy exercise. Over in the States it's so popular now. Wherever you go, you see them kind of power walking, and it is becoming more and more popular here now, as well. So it's just a faster walk and you're just feeling a little bit out of breath.
Other Healthy Fitness features
Ski Fitness
The signs that winter is creeping in are everywhere and this change in weather historically prompts a mass exodus from the treadmills of your local health club to the ski slopes of Europe! In this little offering I would like to discuss the dynamics of skiing and the physiology of balance in order for us to better condition our often under-prepared bodies for the unpredictable mountain that lies ahead.
Pilates with expert Lynne Robinson
Lynne Robinson is a world renowned expert in pilates - with clients such as Hugh Grant, Pat Cash and the England Cricket Team. You too can now benefit from Lynnes' expertise with our Pilates exercise videos, for whatever your level of fitness.
Get motivated to get fit with a summer of sport!
We’ll all be admiring the skill, dedication and fitness levels of the world’s leading athletes as they compete at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But let’s not be passive observers, says personal trainer Jonathan Owen: we can all get motivated to get – and stay! – fit this summer.
The burning question...
We've all been told for years about the dangers of too much tanning. But now experts are saying that too little sun can cause serious problems.
Have fun, get fit, feel free - it's Bike Week 2008!
On June 15, around 27,000 people will set off for the UK's largest charity bike ride from London to Brighton – a gruelling 54 miles. The rest of us, though, can join one of the many shorter rides on offer during Bike Week, and take up the challenge to ‘Have fun, get fit and feel free’!
The virtual gym: the future of fitness?
Exergaming may be a lot more fun than a session in the gym or running round the block on a cold winters morning, but is the eagerly awaited Wii Fit a substitute for our normal exercise regime – or just an entertaining add-on?
On your bikes, kids!
As well as improving their fitness, cycling boosts children’s confidence, independence and self-esteem, say the campaign’s organisers.
Running back to fitness
Has your New Year's resolution to lose weight or exercise more begun to lose momentum? If so, don't lose heart: our fitness and nutrition experts have devised a simple running programme to get you back on track to a healthier lifestyle!
Boost your bone power!
It is an alarming fact that one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will suffer a broken bone as a result of osteoporosis at some point in their lives, yet there is much that we can do to build strong bones.
Animal Magic
Want to get fitter, healthier and more emotionally resilient? Get a pet. A growing body of studies confirms the health-boosting power of furry, scaly or feathered friends
3 treatments that make a difference
Millions of people visit complementary therapists for a variety of pains and problems, but can they really help? We weigh up the evidence for three of the most popular 'alternative' treatments
Living a normal life with Asthma
GP Martin Bell takes an in-depth look at asthma. Living a normal life is an achievable aim for most people with the condition, stresses Dr Bell - the secret lies in getting it under control.
Living with high blood pressure
GP Martin Bell takes an in-depth look at high blood pressure or hypertension, a potentially life-threatening condition affecting many adults.
Fitness for life - exercise regimes for all ages
Exercise advice for all age groups, from children to older adults.
Overweight and inactive. Avoiding the negative spiral.
Lucy looks at some of the reasons for the obesity epidemic.
Your comments