An article written in Times Magazine makes the case that regular exercise does not contribute to weight lose or weight gain. It continues to imply that the more one exercises the more weight would be gained. Exercise makes us hungry therefore we eat more. The more calories taken eat the fatter we become. Is this statement true? Doesn’t this go against what we have all heard how exercise keeps weight off not the other way around?

Many factors play a role in weight lose. Exercise is one and diet is the other. A rule of thumb has always been to burn more calories than you take in. Other circumstances apply here as well like genetics. Yet still there is no better formula for successful weight control than watching how many calories you eat and how much you cardio exercise yo do.

Exercise plays an important role in controlling childhood obesity, diabetes and heart disease. So to suggest that exercise makes you gain weight is irresponsible. Exercise may also help stem certain cancers. Physical activity helps us maintain proper weight, increases our strength and stamina, and makes are bones stronger. This is especially important if you are a senior. With out some form of exercise as we age, one can be looking at osteoporosis and being more susceptible to broken bones as a result from falls.

Today, calories are not only abundant in our foods but are readily available for consumption. Frozen dinners packed with added fat and salt, tempting sugary cereal, over-processed and genetically altered foods all contribute to upending our normal food pyramid. Often these foods are less expensive to buy which may translate to the poorer populations more likely we’ll feel the effects of these unhealthy food choices.

Let’s face it. Americans have it easy. Shopping malls have escalators and elevators. Our society is built around the automobile. Unless you live in a major city where you can walk to your grocery store, movie theatre, or restaurant. With a suburban lifestyle Americans will spend more time driving to these places than their urban counterparts.

Yet if we choose to do nothing, more and more of Americans will spiral downward to being fat and unhealthy. Choosing to exercise is one way to fight the doom. Eating a diet that is low in fat and unwanted chemicals is another. If you are a parent, the time is right to instill upon your children the importance of fitness just as it is to eating healthy. Even schools are starting to see the big picture. Lunch programs are being revamped to provide healthier choices. Physical fitness programs are being re-established where at one time they were eliminated.

So what can you do as a family? Get out and take family walks or bike rides. Support your child in a sports program. Take the stairs and not the escalators when at the mall. Go on family vacations where lots of physical activities are readily available.

So how important is fitness? A little bit of exercise goes a long way in the development of good lifestyle habits. Put some effort into physical activity, watch what you eat and how much you eat, and you’ll see how much better you’ll feel each and everyday of your life. It’s never too late to start.

Is it time for a lifestyle change?A simple resistive band or tube will change your workout habits. Think healthier. Start by doing simple exercises at home or in the office. Flexible exercise bands are lightweight but they allow you to do bi-cep curls and more.

categories: physical exercise,living healthier,better fitness,healthy weight loss,physical activities,eating healthy,American diets