Weight loss can be very confusing.  Not only do we have to research through all the diets which are on offer but we have to learn which type of exercise is going to maximise our results.  Nobody wants to exercise without getting results yet many people exercise daily for long periods to help to lose weight yet they can never achieve their goals.  This can lead to the person becoming disheartened, and they look back at all the hard work with not much to show for it.  The person will then look for reasons why they have not lost anywhere near the amount they set out to achieve.   But the answer might be as simple as looking at the type of exercise you should be doing to achieve the results you are after.

Recent research is starting to show that regular aerobic exercise has very little to do with the weight loss we are after.  Aerobic exercise is great for the body as it helps to improve our cardiovascular system.  Which means that it helps to improve the amount of oxygen we can pump around our body’s which can be very beneficial in helping us feel more energetic, improve memory and concentration, increasing our motivation and reduce our risk of developing diseases like strokes and heart problems.  So this type of exercise should be included in every one’s lifestyle however it may not be the most beneficial exercise to specifically lose fat.

Many recent studies have had test groups who were on a calorie controlled diet and another which used a calorie controlled diet and regular exercise, which may have been up to an hour a day.  After several months the group that exercised did not lose that much more than the group that purely dieted.  The groups which exercised and dieted only lost a couple of kilograms.  Regular aerobic exercise a few times a week does prevent the loss of lean muscle mass which can occur when you lose weight.  This lean muscle is crucial as it can help to maintain a healthy metabolism.

Although aerobic exercise is not the key component to helping you lose weight it is beneficial for overall health and to maintain the weight loss which has occurred.  It is the restriction in the amount of kilojoules in a day which will govern how much weight you will lose.  Don’t rule exercise out of you lifestyle as is has it’s benefits, but don’t try and make up for that bad food by exercising as you won’t burn off those poor food choices.  If you want to lose weight focus on your diet and change your eating habits, which will make you feel more energetic so you can get out there and enjoy your exercise instead of seeing it as a form of punishment.

Ingredients:

• 250gm low fat continental cheese
• 1 medium-sized mango, peeled and flesh removed
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 passionfruit, pulp removed

Method:

1. Place mango into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Add cheese and maple syrup and blend together until mixture is smooth and creamy.
2. Empty into a bowl and mix through passionfruit pulp.
3. Serve with tropical fruits of your choice e.g. strawberries, kiwi fruit and pineapple.
4. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Chromium (especially the chromium picolinate form of chromium) facilitates weight loss by improving the body’s utilisation of insulin. Improved utilisation of insulin results in a reduction in the ability of insulin to stimulate the accumulation of fat deposits around the body. Chromium is particularly effective when it is used in conjunction with exercise. Clinical studies support the ability of chromium picolinate to facilitate weight loss.

In one study, a group of chromium picolinate users were compared with a group receiving a placebo compound. The group receiving chromium picolinate lost significantly more weight and fat mass compared to the placebo group and experienced a significant reduction in their percentage of body fat without loss of lean muscle mass.  The usual beneficial dose of chromium is between 400mcg to 800mcg per day of the chromium picolinate form of chromium.