Lately I have been focusing on my diet.
Partially because of my vanity, but also due to the fact that no matter of how
much I exercise I still have a few annoying extra pounds. One solution to rid
myself of this extra weight would be to significantly increase my level of
exercise, but then I wouldn't have a life.
I'd been hearing a lot about the Zone and
Atkin's Diet, and I was intrigued. Went out and bought the books. And although
there is controversy related to both of these diet plans, I found the overall
logic appealing. The concept behind these popular low carbohydrate diets is to
eat more protein and fewer carbohydrates and sugar.
With a low carb diet a person reduces their
carbohydrate consumption, the body's blood-sugar levels decrease and cause the
pancreas to produce less insulin. With less insulin to draw on, the body is
forced to burn fat reserves for energy, resulting in rapid weight loss,
according to gurus such as Dr. Atkins. Eating more fat -- a food category that
formerly was taboo for many dieters -- makes the body feel full, leading to
fewer carbohydrate cravings. For detailed information on these diets read
"Enter the Zone" and "Dr. Atkin's New Diet Revolution."
An essential element to both of these diets is
exercise. So many diet plans are primarily based on starvation, while
neglecting the importance of fitness to your overall health. Both Dr. Sears
(Zone Diet) and Dr. Atkins emphasize the importance of exercise with their
diet plans.
According to Dr. Sears, "There's no doubt
that exercise should be a vital part of any personal total health program, not
only because of its well-known 'sweat benefits' - improved weight control,
improved cardiovascular fitness, and improved strength - but also because of
the sense of well being that comes from even mild exertion." He talks
about the hormonal changes the various types of exercise induce. He suggests
that food is the "primary pathway" to losing weight, but that
exercise can widen the path and make it easier to keep weight off on a
long-term basis.
Dr Atkins calls exercise
"non-negotiable." You must make a commitment to physical activity
combined with changing the way you eat. According to Atkins "Doing one
without the other is like riding a bike with flat tires. It's a lot more
difficult. Regular physical activity has been proven to contribute
significantly to each of the Atkins principles: weight loss, weight
maintenance, good health and disease prevention."
Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance
It is a basic law of the universe, if you burn
more calories than you consume you will lose weight. But an added value to
exercise is that you increase your metabolic rate. That means even when you
are inactive you are still burning calories at a higher rate.
Good Health
Atkins states that regular exercise results in
a number of health benefits including:
-
Better endurance, flexibility and muscle
strength
-
Increased longevity
-
Decreased insulin production
-
Elevated mood and reduced depression and
anxiety
Disease Prevention
Atkins sees physical activity having a positive
effect on virtually of all the bodies systems. These effects result in a
decreased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon
cancer and Type II diabetes. He refers to a report from the Global Burden of
Disease Project which states that, "physical inactivity is among the most
important risk factors threatening global health."
If you are like so many individuals who are
engaged in the battle of bulge, think like a military strategist and make a
two prong attack. This should consist of a diet that works for you, combined
with regular exercise. One without the other is a losing battle.
Have a healthy and prosperous life.
Fred Waters
Smooth Fitness
