The benefits of exercise
Increasing your muscle size raises your resting metabolic rate, which means that you burn extra calories for a much longer time after exercising than is the case with most other exercise activities.
Most overweight people already have developed strong muscles in their lower body, and have also often produced a lot of wear and tear in the process of carrying extra weight.
Most people, and especially women, will exercise their lower body and neglect their upper body. Since with most activities initial gains are usually the greatest, we believe that it is appropriate to emphasize development of the upper body.
Following bariatric surgery, part of your new healthier lifestyle is a commitment to better fitness. Walking is a perfect exercise for almost all patients.
Walking is one of the simplest and safest aerobic exercises you can do. It will help you strengthen your bones and condition your heart and lungs. Being consistent in your walking exercise routine is one of the most important factors in developing a healthy physical activity program.
The Healthy Facts About Walking
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The following are some quick facts about walking:
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Walking an extra 20 minutes each day will burn off 7 pounds of body fat per year.
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Longer, moderately-paced daily walks (40 minutes at 60% to 65% maximum heart rate) are best for losing weight.
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Shorter, faster walks (20-25 minutes at 75% to 85% maximum heart rate) are best for conditioning your heart and lungs.
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Walking provides the following benefits:
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Improves efficiency of your heart and lungs
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Burns body fat
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Raises your metabolism so you are burning calories faster, even while you rest
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Helps control your appetite
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Increases your energy
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Helps relieve stress
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Reduces levels of cholesterol in your blood
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Lowers high blood pressure
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Helps control and prevent diabetes
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Reduces risk of some forms of cancer including colorectal, prostrate, and breast
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Promotes intestinal regularity
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Helps promote restful sleep
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Strengthens your bones and reduces bone density loss in older women
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Reduces stiffness in your joints due to inactivity or arthritis
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Relieves most cases of chronic backache
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Improves flexibility
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Improves posture
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Improves mental alertness and memory
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Elevates mood
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Helps prevent and/or reduce depression
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Improves your self-esteem
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Increases sexual vigor
Walking is preferable to running or jogging because it creates less stress on your joints, including hips, knees, and ankles. Remember to properly warm up before and cool down after every walking session...your muscles will love you for it!
