I have very little diet control, how much exercise should I do?

Question

Since I can't really control my diet very well, how much should I exercise a day to lose weight? I usually do those 20 minute workouts from OnDemand, how many calories do you think they burn? And how many should I do a day?

Answer 1

We  have no idea, because there are so many other factors involved - your age, gender, current weight, height, etc.  And of course you can control your diet.  You haven't given us enough information to really suggest how, but you can control your diet.

Keeping a food journal really does help.  It will give you a much better sense of how much you are eating, and when, and why.

Make a few small changes - walk everywhere, always use stairs instead of elevators, walk on escalators, get up and move around at least once an hour if your work or your life in general is sedentary, walk every day, use a pedometer. Walking 10,000 steps a day is a really good idea. Build up to a long brisk walk everyday, or most days.  Be more active and watch less TV and spend less time on the computer.

Start a weight lifting routine. It will help increase your metabolism and make you feel and look better in so many ways. Join a gym. Possibly you can find one that has someone who specializes in weight lifting programs for beginners. Weight lifting will increase your metabolism as well as improve posture and appearance overall.

In terms of diet, cut out or reduce things like junk food, pop, fat, fast food. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish.   Particularly if you choose a vegetarian lifestyle include natural peanut butter, hummus, dried fruit and nuts.  Pay close attention to getting the nutrients your body needs to be healthy.  Drink plenty of water, at least 8 big glasses a day, and more if it is very hot, it you sweat a lot, or if you are exercising intensely. You will begin to see changes in your body.

Check out websites about nutrition, exercise, weight training, etc.  Here are a couple of helpful links.

http://www.nutrawatch.com/

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_ea...

http://weightloss.about.com/cs/fitness/a...

http://www.thepumpingstation.com/trainin...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/fe...

Answer 2

you should exercise at least 30 minutes a day and increase workouts and decrease food until you lose one to two pounds a week

Answer 3

well you don't really need to work out like that, the way i lost 124lbs in 1 year was i'd count how many calories i ate that day and i'd work off more calories than that, its actually simple, say you eat a 100 cal. bag of chips, you'd work off 110 calories, just keep doing that every day and the fat will melt off, really! but remember to drink lots of water with every workout.

Answer 4

diet is probably the most important thing in losing weight....exercise helps...think of a linemen from football...they run a lot during practice yet they still are pretty big....thats because they eat so much there body still stores the calories they took in regardless of the exercise they do....so think about that if you eat like a maniac but still work out...

Answer 5

I think that walking 3 miles once a day is good, and if you don't have any place to do that try going on a treadmill at a public gym nearest you.