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Obesity means, your total
body weight is at least thirty percent fat. When this happens, everything
starts shutting down. Two things must occur in order for this not to get
worse; lose fat and gain muscle.
Lose Fat: Through exercise and eating better.
Gain Muscle: Through weight training and weight bearing cardiovascular
exercising.
One muscle cell burns off seven times the amount of one fat cell. So do
your math. The more muscle tissue you have the more calories you will
burn, even by just sitting. There is no easy way around this, you are
going to have to get off your butt, or there is a good chance of something
bad happening to you and your health. Incorporating, diet, exercise and
movement in your life is really your only healthy choice. Do you need some
help? If so, that’s ok. There are those here like myself that really care
about you and are not out to make a quick buck with some pie in the sky
pill.
Obesity is more than a cosmetic
concern. Being seriously overweight puts you at greater risk of developing
high blood pressure and many other serious health risks. Ultimately,
obesity can even be life-threatening. Annually in the United States, more
than 300,000 deaths are linked to obesity.
People gain weight when the body
takes in more calories than it burns off. Those extra calories are stored
as fat. The amount of weight gain that leads to obesity doesn't happen in
a few weeks or months. Because being obese is more than just being a few
pounds overweight, people who are obese have usually been getting more
calories than they need for years.
The best way to avoid these
health problems is to maintain a healthy weight. And the keys to healthy
weight are regular exercise and good eating habits.
To stay active, try to exercise 30 to 60 minutes every day. Your exercise
doesn't have to be hard core, either. Walking, swimming, and stretching
are all good ways to burn calories and help you stay fit. Try these
activities to get moving:
- Go outside for a walk.
- Take the stairs instead of the
elevator.
- Walk or bike to places (such as
school or a friend's house) instead of driving.
- If you have to drive somewhere, park
farther away than you need to and walk the extra distance.
- Tackle those household chores, such
as vacuuming, washing the car, or cleaning the bathroom - they all burn
calories.
- Alternate activities so you don't get
bored: Try running, biking, skating - the possibilities are endless.
- Limit your time watching TV or
playing video games; even reading a book burns more energy.
- Go dancing - it can burn more than
300 calories an hour!
There are some
factors in weight gain that we simply have no control over. Some
illnesses may lead to weight gain, such as Cushing's disease.
There are also other underlying issues that often lead to weight gain,
such as genetics, environmental factors, psychological issues, physical
inactivity due to injury or illness, and eating disorders, such
as BED (binge eating disorder).
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