Most important factor in keeping the weight off

Firstly before anyone thinks I have posted in the wrong section, I have posted in here on purpose, specifically to target those who shy away from exercise when aiming to lose weight permanently!

This, for me, is probably the most important factor when aiming to lose weight and keep it off! I have known many people, family and friends, who have gone on diets in the past, or who are currently dieting, and are doing very well at maintaining a low calorie/fat/sugar diet. The weight, inevitably is dropping off at a very high rate, more so than experts suggest is ‘average’.

Everything is brilliant, until they reach a weight which they are happy with, and the diet then slowly becomes more relaxed, and this is when the weight will pile straight back on. (One general rule I have always followed, if you lose it fast, it will come back just as quick. Lose it slowly and properly, it will take much longer to return!)

This is where exercise comes in. Many people feel that they are perhaps ‘too unhealthy to start’ or ‘have a bad back so I can’t go to the gym’, Many people simply feel too self conscious to go to public facilities! However, many over look the simple fact that exercise such as walking can be very beneficial.

It is scientifically proven that exercise increases the metabolism, which will aid your weight loss, not to mention the release of the hormone known as endorphin, (also known as the ‘feel good’ hormone – the same one in fact that is released when eating chocolate!) which will help make us feel better about ourselves! The release of this hormone also helps us to enjoy exercising, so the more you do it, the better you will feel, and you will end start to look forward to the feeling of exercising/ working out!

We have all seen programs on the TV where people have lost large amounts of weight, and are left with excess skin which is very unsightly, exercise can also help here; as with slow weight loss, accompanied with toning exercises, you can help keep the skin tight at the same time as losing weight, which will ultimately end in less of this over hanging skin.

The post is beginning to get a bit too long now so I’ll just wrap it up, I know I haven’t structured this information very well, but I just feel it is so important for people who put all the effort in to losing weight, to realise that by starting exercise, along with dieting will help them so much in the long run at keeping the weight off, as there is nothing worse than it all piling back on, damaging your body and self confidence.

There are many free websites available with information on very simple ways to add exercise into our lives, so please at least look into it, so you can look and feel great for as long as possible!

Good luck everyone!