Sometimes, the temptation to dislodge excessive fat from the body as quickly as possible is so strong that some people resort to different types of dietary regimes as a way out. These methods are supposed to provide the easy way out, no matter how tedious or unreasonable they may be. Usually, such options are also devoid of any form of physical exertion.

The focus mainly is on the reduction of quantity of foods and drinks consumed. True, some of these means do sometimes give the desired result, but in most cases, it is short-lived. Such crash programmes range from skipping meals to outright avoidance of food. Some people even go as far as throwing up right after eating, so that nothing stays in their bodies. However, they tend to have grave consequences, which detract from the outcome.
Taking the short-cut approach is definitely not it in the fitness business, simply because the result is always temporary and can also be unpleasant.
For fat or obese people wanting to slim down, the idea is to eat appropriately, which means consuming more of wholesome and balanced diet, avoiding unnecessary accumulation of fat through bad foods, as well as physical idleness. So, engaging in adequate physical activities exercises should be factored in.

More often than not, people that adopt these unrealistic methods of losing weight always discover to their disappointment that they have only succeeded in achieving the very opposite. They end up gaining even more weight than they started out with. The fact is that when one skips a meal, there is the tendency to eat more during the next meal.
Besides, there is the other problem of the body losing vital minerals and other nutrients through this kind of approach. But these are urgently needed and the person then becomes weak and under-nourished.
It is right, when wanting to shed weight, to reduce the amount of food and drink consumed, especially when these are fat-inducing. But on no account should one skip meals or resort to some such ridiculous methods out of the desire to lose weight. In addition, appropriate exercise regime should be included in the programme.
It is always better to do it the right way by ensuring that weight is lost naturally and gradually, while also firming and toning the body at the same time.

Just Before Exercise
IT is a good idea to prepare the body before embarking on rigorous exercises. Once the habit has been cultivated to make exercise a compulsory part of one’s routine, it is recommended that the proper stages be observed to avoid and minimise injuries.

Warm ups and cool downs are essential part of any worthwhile exercise regimen. They should be taken seriously, too. It is important to warm up prior to exercising and cool down once you are through. Warm up allows the body to gradually adjust to the workout about to take place, while the cool down serves to return the body slowly to its state before the exercise.

It is important to know that this particular warm up is entirely different from the brief warm-up usually performed before stretching. Three to five minutes each for the warm-up and cool-down session is okay.
It may sound like too much work, when the exerciser has to warm up prior to stretching, warm up again, do the main exercise, cool down and then stretch again. Yes, it is a lot to do, but the long-term benefit far outweighs the temporary discomfort. However, there is a consolation in knowing that after a while, these things will become part of the routine, so that they don’t seem like too much effort again.

Also, they help by giving the exerciser time to mentally prepare, focus and reflect on how best to achieve the goal for that session. It will soon be noticed how these little ‘extras’ enhance the experience of taking care of the body.

The best way to warm up and cool down is to use the same activity intended for the main exercise, but at a lower intensity. For instance, if the exerciser is walking for 20 minutes, he/she should simply start out by walking at a slower, more comfortable pace for five minutes. Then, he/she should switch to a faster pace for about 30-minute workout. When the exerciser is done, he/should cool down at the same pace used for warming up.

The same process goes for other activities such as stair stepping, jogging and running among others. Today, some step machines have warm-up and cool-down built into their pre-programmed routine. Most aerobic dance classes also include warm-up and cool-down, as well as stretching in their typical 50-60 minute format.
Another point is that the warm-up, cool down and stretches should not be counted as part of the 20 to 60-minute exercise time.