Losing Weight - Is That Really What You Want To Do?

Many people say that they want to lose weight, but do they really. Trying some fad diet is not usually a serious attempt at weight loss. If you do want to lose weight, and more than a pound or two, you will need a serious diet and exercise program.

Why do you need to exercise? Exercise will burn calories, and the more you exercise, the more calories you will burn. Most people have a definite lack of understanding when it comes to calories. That means they have the same lack of understanding when it comes to weight gain or weight loss.

A calorie is what is found in the foods we eat, and what the body uses for energy. When we eat, we consume calories. Everything we do, burns calories. If we put more calories into our body by eating food, than we burn off by whatever we do, the extra calories are stored as fat.

Gaining weight is simple, just eat more calories than you burn. Losing weight is just as simple, eat less calories than you burn. That is why exercise is so important in any weight loss program. The more calories you burn, the easier it is to lose weight.

Everything we do burns calories, even breathing burns calories, but not everyone burns calories at the same rate. Some people have a higher metabolism than others, and that makes them able to eat more calories, because their burn rate is higher.

Standing uses up about 100 calories in an hour, and since a pound of fat is approximately 3500 calories, it will only take 35 hours of standing to lose a pound. More than likely while you were standing for those 35 hours, you would eat something. And if you ate more than 3500 calories you would gain weight.

More calories will be used depending on the intensity of the exercise. An aerobics class will use 450 calories in an hour, which is the same for using a stationary bike. Running uses 700 calories, so to lose a pound you would need to run for 5 hours.

As you increase your level of activity, or exercise harder or longer, the weight will fall off, faster and faster. If you are unable to cut down your food intake, you can still lose weight with a hard workout every day, as long as you do not increase your eating.

People who lose weight do at least one of the following:

1. Keep the food intake the same, while starting a disciplined exercise program.

2. Keep the exercise the same, but start a disciplined eating program.

3. Eat less food, while exercising more.

If exercising has never been a part of your life, then you need to find some exercise you like and begin slowly. If nothing else start going on short walks, and doing stretching exercises. Increase your routine as you begin feeling better.