Healing Aids... - Exercise - Exercise and Weight Loss

 
Exercise and Weight Loss

If you have weight loss goals, it is important to keep in mind that one pound of fat is the equivalent of 3,500 calories. If you exert 500 more calories than you consume on a daily basis, you will lose about one pound per week. These numbers should not serve as a guide (do not "number-crunch") but rather as an indication of the dangers of rapidly losing weight. Dieting does not work and is harmful; the idea is not to eat less, but to eat properly, in combination with your healthy exercise program. Rapid weight changes, especially repeated weight fluctuations, can be dangerously stressful to your body (and to your mind).

What is a healthy body shape? People come in all shapes and sizes and being physically fit does not necessarily correspond with a model's physique or what is deemed "fit" by society. It is generally understood that 18% body fat is a healthy maximum for men, while up to 25% is healthy for women (women naturally carry a higher percentage of body fat). There is controversy, though, as to what constitutes healthy minimums. For instance, marathon runners and competitive bodybuilders often fall off the body fat percentage charts (sometimes well under 5% body fat) and there is great debate as to whether those body types are considered "healthy".