Archive for October, 2008

Aerobics As A Weight Loss Exercise Program

If you are looking for a weight loss exercise program, aerobics can be one of the best. It is simple, it can be adapted to different levels of fitness, and it is fun!

What Is Aerobics?

Technically, aerobic exercise is any form of activity that increases the circulation of oxygen in the blood. In practice, this means anything that makes your heart beat faster and your lungs work harder. You may be panting for breath.

For some people who are not fit, walking up a gentle hill will have this effect and will be enough at first. If you are fitter, you may take up something like dance, running, cycling or attending an aerobics class.

It is important not to overdo the stress on the heart and lungs, especially if you are overweight. You may be at risk of serious consequences. See a doctor before beginning any fitness program. However, with advice on what is appropriate for your level of health, aerobics can be a great solution for an overweight person.

Aerobics For Weight Loss

This type of exercise can help with weight loss in three ways.

First, the activity itself will burn more energy than if you were sitting watching TV. This means you are burning up calories. Also, of course, you cannot eat while you are exercising (or if you can, you should not – it is not good for the digestion). However, you can eat while you are watching TV.

Second, becoming more fit through aerobic activity will increase the metabolism for most people. This means that because the body is more exercised, it will burn more calories even during the times when you are doing nothing.

Third, most people find that when they exercise, they begin to desire healthier food. Becoming fitter will help you steer clear of the sugary fatty foods that pile on the pounds. You will want more lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, which provide more efficient fuel for the muscles. Just pay attention to your body and it will help you to let go of the bad eating habits.

Alone Or In Class?

You can practice aerobics at home but most people find it is best to go to a class. There are several reasons for this. First, having a class to go to each day or on certain days makes it easier to keep to your weight loss exercise plan. You have it in your schedule, your family expects you to go, maybe you already paid for the class — all of these factors make it more likely that you will go.

The social aspect is also important. Many people sign up to a class with a friend and again this helps you to continue attending, for the pleasure of seeing your friend. Even if you don’t have a friend to go with, you will soon get to know other people in the class. The friendly chats and social contact that you will have will increase your enjoyment of your aerobics class. You will also motivate each other.

Having fun is very important when it comes to finding a fitness program that you can keep to. As we all know, it is easy enough to exercise once or twice, but doing the same thing over and over, three to five times a week, is another matter. But aerobics is fun, especially when you are in a group, and that means it will be more effective than many other kinds of exercise where you might become bored very quickly. This is just one reason why aerobics can be a very effective weight loss exercise program.

Tags: aerobics, weight loss exercise program, health, fitness

Free Exercise Programs That You Can Do At Home Today

There are plenty of free exercise programs to choose from but you do need to plan your workout carefully to have something that suits you. Your program will determine how quickly and effectively you can reach your goals.

Planning Your Exercise Program

The most important factor is that it should be as simple and as fun as possible, while being well suited to your current fitness levels and your personality and preferences.

You can pick out different exercises to include in your workout either online or by watching DVDs or exercise shows on TV. It is a good idea to have some flexibility and not do exactly the same exercise every day. You want to be sure you are not working only a few muscle groups. You can either do a certain routine for a few weeks and then change, or have a different program that you do on different days of the week.

Choose a time to exercise that suits your schedule and stick to it. In this respect you should not be constantly changing. It is best to go for the same time every day, 3 to 6 days per week.

Most people prefer to work out first thing in the morning. It is a great way to wake up. But if this does not suit you, go for later in the day, but always wait at least 2 hours after eating.

A good exercise program will last for about 45-50 minutes. You can include 10-15 minutes of stretching and warm-up exercises, followed by 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise and 10 minutes of cool-down which might include yoga or pilates.

The Options For Your Workout Are Limitless

The aerobic exercise could be done on home gym equipment such as a treadmill or exercise cycle or you could run or cycle outdoors. If you like dance, you could pick up a dance aerobics DVD and use that. Step aerobics is another option. Alternatively, the stairs in your house or apartment block can be very effective aerobic exercise equipment.

The key here is to choose something that you enjoy. Also, do not forget to check with your doctor that your program is suitable for your level of health and fitness.

Variation is important for emotional reasons too. Without it, your plans could fall prey to boredom. So if you like cycling, you may want to cycle outdoors in good weather or indoors when it rains. To increase the variety, a couple of times a week you could do some strength training with weights or muscle building equipment, instead of the aerobic exercise. At the weekend, you might go hiking.

Finally take a shower and you have filled the first hour of your day, getting your body off to a great start. Free exercise programs that you tailor to your own lifestyle should increase your energy levels and put you in a better mood through the whole day.

Tags: free exercise programs, fitness, health