Meet diet’s BFF

Let’s talk about diet’s BFF – exercise. The term “lifestyle change” is practically synonymous with diet AND exercise. The two work so nicely together, but so many people focus only on diet, while others think exercise is the way to go.  Both are winners on there in own right! Research shows that diet helps most with weight loss, whereas exercise helps most with longevity. In my experience, exercise becomes critical for weight loss when we look at keeping weight off for the long term.

Whether you want to live a long, healthy life (who doesn’t?) or just want to drop some weight, exercise should be a part of your plan.

This week on social I’ll be sharing some examples of exercise options that are perfect for beginners, at-home exercisers and anyone looking to mix it up.  Here's a quick primer on the four types of exercises you’ll see this week.

Aerobic/cardio – This type of exercise gets your heart rate up and is great for fat loss. Jogging, brisk walking, swimming, exercise classes, bike riding, dancing and many other activities qualify. 150 minutes of aerobic exercise is recommended each week.

Strength training – Strength training engages your muscles and includes some element of resistance. It’s key to building muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn every day. Using weights, resistance bands, or supporting your own body weight are all options for strength training.

Flexibility – Stretching and yoga help us to avoid injury and to age more gracefully.

Balance – Balance is helped by strength and flexibility exercises, so you can check this box with yoga and lower body strength training.  Good balance becomes critical as we age!