| I’m
an active 42 year old woman who hikes over two and a half miles
a day, Saturday through Wednesday. At least twice a week, I lift
weight. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to shake my last 15
pounds. My friend thinks I need to do more cardiovascular exercise.
Would a cycling class improve my chances of weight loss?
Answer:
While hiking offers extraordinary benefits for maintaining the
heart’s healthiness, you’ll need to work significantly harder
to lose weight.
But when
it comes to losing weight, you probably need to work harder
— and differently. It may mean exercising a little bit beyond
your comfort zone. Many physical trainers and kinesiologists
recommend exercise that makes the individual work up a moderate
sweat.
Since hiking
2.5 miles has becomes easier, you need to move your exercise
to the next level. Because, you have been following the same
work out schedule, your body has grown accustomed and less apt
to burn expend calories. Modifying your fitness goals, objectives
and program maybe in order.
You might
start by exercising more making for the following changes:
- Amplify
your cardiovascular routine by doing more rigorous movements
or work
- Intensify your weight training program
- Reduce caloric intake
- Cutback on foods high in carbohydrates with little
- Consume snacks high in nutritional value such as the following
- Almonds
- Apples
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cheese
- Dried Cherries
- Dried Cranberries
- Figs
- Grapes
- Grapefruit
- Oranges
- Mangos
- Pineapples
- Wheat crackers
- Yogurt
To ensure
reduced caloric intake, try to avoid drinking the juice version
of the above fruits. Do not drink ‘”fruit drinks” because they
are loaded with fructose – which may counterbalance weight loss.
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