Baggage Claims

“The price to pay
for quitting exercise is higher than expected, and this price may be an
important factor in the obesity epidemic affecting Americans,” Williams
states. “If you stop exercising, you don’t get to resume where you left
off if you want to lose weight.”

If you
maintain a consistent exercise program throughout the year, you will
likely reap big benefits. These not only include weight control, but
also lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as the less
likelihood of developing type-2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some forms
of cancer. In addition, you are apt to experience increased energy,
improved mental well-being, and the ability to live an independent
lifestyle with extended longevity.

Thirty or
more minutes per day is the exercise prescription. The workout should
be moderately strenuous. Brisk walking is one of the simplest and best
exercises for most people. If you add strength training (weights or
machines) two or three times each week, you will be taking even better
care of your body.

An interesting twist on
this subject was reported at a meeting of the Heart Foundation.
Professor Steve Boutcher of the University of New South Wales compared
two groups of overweight women. One group worked out on an exercise
bike at a moderate pace continuously for 40 minutes three times per
week. The other group worked out for 20 minutes three times per week at
short exercise intervals: eight seconds of ultra-hard moving followed
by 12 seconds of lighter work. Even though the interval group exercised
only half as many minutes as the continuous group, the results were
remarkable: They lost three times as much fat.

Regardless
of what form of exercise you choose and whether it involves continuous
or interval sessions, make your best effort to keep up the pattern
year-round. q