Exercise and Weight Loss

It is summertime here in the U.S. and we tend to be more
active. This means you can lose more weight by just putting
a little effort into what you choose to do each day.

You can lose about one pound a week by upping your activity
level by 500 calories a day. Take a look at what this would
mean in activity:

* Take a half-hour walk around the park. Aim for a pace that's
a little faster than a stroll, but not fast enough to be breathless.
Burn: 160 calories.

* Get out your bike and take a ride. Tackle a few moderate hills
and aim for about five miles total. Burn: 250 calories

* Dancing works - really DANCE. The longer you're out on the floor
instead of at the table drinking up high-calorie drinks, the more
you'll get out of it. Dancing that makes you breathless and warms
up your body will net you a nice calorie savings. Burn: 400 calories
for one hour

* Swimming is great for you, and is fun and relaxing, too. The water
resistance means you burn more calories, and you avoid the stress
impact on joints from aerobics, dancing or walking. Do a few laps
at a slow crawl - if you can get up to an hour you'll be doing great!
Burn: 510 calories

* Get out into your garden. An hour of gardening tasks that includes
bending and stretching can burn up to as many calories as a brisk walk.
Burn: 250 calories.

Keep in mind that all exercise/calorie numbers are based on a woman
weighing 130 pounds. If you weigh more, you'll burn more.

Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac.