You bet your bottom dollar they are!

The vast majority of people who want to loose weight start dieting, but this is only part of battle, and on its own you will not be particularly happy with results.

So why is exercise import? SIMPLE! Look …

Let’s say you want to cut out 500 calories a day from your daily intake. A daily reduction of 500 calories might be too difficult for you – and that is why so many people fail in reaching their goal. They set themselves goals that are too hard to reach. Don’t fall into that trap.

We know that a 3500-calorie reduction per week is needed to produce a one pound weight loss of fat. Therefore, a daily calorie reduction of approximately 500 –1000 calories is necessary to loose 1 to 2 pounds of fat per week.

For instance, let’s say a portion of macaroni provides 250 calories per serving, and we all know how easy it is to eat a double serving of packaged foods, which would be 500 calories. Using above example of 500 calories a day, if we don’t eat macaroni we easily reach our daily goal, but we don’t eat!!! So, how do we manage this … We eat one portion (250 calories), and we exercise away remaining 250 calories.

250 + 250 = 500.

Using diet + exercise approach, it is easy to see how much easier it is to reach your goals. You really don’t have to starve. In case above you can still eat your macaroni. Does that seem hard to you? I don’t think so.

A one-hour walk equals approximately 420 calories. A reduction of 500 calories a day means a one pound weight loss per week. Once you’re in shape, just look at uphill walking, that goes anywhere from 480 to 900 calories!

Are you feeling motivated yet? Doesn’t it seem easier now?

Just remember diet alone won’t really get you to where you want to go. Team diet together with an intelligent exercise routine and … Whoa! You get fit AND it’s easy to stay fit!

This turnaround has come about due to fact that people suffering from obesity and its associated illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes and cancer are beginning to sue food companies for their weight problems.

Macdonald’s have already come under fire from collective obesity saying they made it fat and as such company have begun offering fruit and a new range of salads. Will it catch on?

Personally, if you wanted a salad, you wouldn’t be going to Macdonald’s. Silly idea in my opinion and really, I’m sure it would just be rain forest we would be eating anyhow. Still, a wonderful marketing exercise just sprung to mind. Rather than company just chop down forests to make way for grazing areas, Macdonald’s customers could eat it. All that added roughage, you see. Two birds (of endangered variety) just flew across my subconscious …

Obesity: I certainly don’t remember seeing so many overweight people around when I was younger and I’m still only in my early 30s. Scientific research has proved that, globally, number of people suffering from obesity has risen by 50% in last seven years. You just have to question modern food and modern lifestyles. I rode my bike when I was younger. My step-son just kills people. This would of course keep him lithe because he’d be constantly on run, but people he kills are just computer animated.

He does however have one lovely advantage over many kids his age – his mum’s dominant genes. She’s as svelte as they come and so are her kids. Him and his sister have something else going for them. A step-father brought up on Country Store. If I were to notice a weight change in kids, you’ll know why they suddenly begin to dread breakfast. As for parents in our house, we’ll just stick to Starburst. That way, our appetites will never be overly “vast”.

We’ll be ones with a nosebag in corner full of purple sweets and tears in our eyes.