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Daily Exercise and Diet Synergy

Combining a regular exercise routine with a healthy diet just makes good sense. Having one without the other is not nearly as effective toward your overall health and fitness as having both work together. The resulting synergies are well worth it. The dynamics of healthy diet and exercise are more important when we are over 40.

So, if exercise is important, what kind. Before you start, you should consider your own fitness level and consult your doctor. Find a level of exercise that is right for you. You should start with a level that is moderate for you, one you can maintain, feel good about, and will not cause injury. But here are some guidelines.

A daily exercise routine is best with 1 or 2 days off for rest per week. I usually do 5 days of a regular exercise routine during the week. Then do some outdoor activity such as hiking on Saturday, and rest on Sunday. Choose what is best for you.

A healthy exercise routine should include a combination of aerobic activity and moderate weight training, also known as resistance training. I lift weights on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I do aerobics on Tuesday and Thursday. I alternate my weight routines between upper body and lower body / abdominals.

Including moderate weight training in your exercise routine means that you will be adding muscle instead of just burning fat. Muscle burns fat faster. Furthermore, when you exercise with weights, your body will need time to recuperate. This recuperation process is when the new muscle is built, but this will also burn calories. Your body will still be burning calories long after you finish your workout.

As far as exercise equipment is concerned, you don’t need anything fancy. I do quite well with dumbbells and a small portable bench that I use for both weights and crunches and sit-ups. I would also recommend an exercise mat. If you want to add to your exercise equipment, I highly recommend the Total Gym. I really like the one I have and have gotten good results with it.

For aerobics, a brisk walk does wonders, but you can also work up to jogging and walking and then jogging. There are plenty of aerobic exercise videos available and I will discuss those in a future article.

Remember, the first step is usually the hardest. Start with something moderate and that you can build on. But the benefits of combining a regular exercise routine with a healthy diet are well worth the effort.