Take a look at what's inside your fridge. Do not cringe if you see "fattening" food inside. Are you really sure they are "fattening"? What defines a fattening food anyway? Most diet programs always check on calorie count, and carbohydrate count, fat count and other food elements and their measurements. Then there are fitness experts who will tell you to stay away from high-calorie food, much carbohydrates, fats and even sugar as they can add up to fat and weight.

There are studies that show low-carb diets, low-cal diets and low-fat diets are most effective and sweat-less weight-loss techniques. It may work for others but not for everybody. Again, it still depends on how your body reacts to different weight-loss programs.

Calories and carbohydrates are just some of things believed to make a person gain weight. So, in most diet programs, people are advised to cut down on their intake of these two. However, some experts say that it's not necessary to cut down calorie and carbohydrate intake as they can be very useful in a person's daily activities. This is because calories and carbohydrates are source of energy people use in their daily activities. Without these two, there'll be not enough energy for body to use in accomplishing tasks. And besides, losing weight does not necessarily happen with dieting alone. Most of time, there is great need to exercise, sweat and stretch.

· Enhanced circulation · Enhanced energy, strength and vitality · Enhanced flexibility and coordination · Good posture · Increased ability to breathe deeper, infusing more prana into system · A feeling of lightness in body · Toned muscles and body · Increased efficiency of digestive system and a balanced appetite and metabolism · Increased efficiency in eliminating toxins from body

The ayurvedic approach to exercise also aims at following benefits for mind, heart and spirit:

· Enhanced mental alertness and agility · Enhanced mental strength · Enhanced focus and ability to concentrate · Sense of emotional equilibrium · Enhanced self-esteem and respect for one's body · Self-awareness · Enhanced ability to manage stress · Freedom of spirit

General Ayurvedic Exercise Guidelines

Exercise done to point of discomfort tends to be counterproductive. When you work out to point where you are sore, exhausted and straining to breathe normally, your body is generating free radicals, which have been implicated in disease and premature aging. Excessive free radical build-up in body tends to lower natural immunity. Also, when you work your body so hard that you have to take a day off to rest it after every three days of exercise, you are increasing wear and tear. Over-exercising can interfere with your metabolism as well, slowing it down.

To get benefits from exercise without side effects, exercise only as long as you can breathe normally through nose. When you begin to feel yourself pushing beyond your zone of comfort, slow down and walk until you can resume again without straining. Over time, as your body acclimatizes itself to your new way of working out, you will be able to exercise longer in comfort. Pay heed to your body and it will guide you towards your optimum exercise type and level.

The ayurvedic texts describe concept of balaardh-using half your strength or capacity-when you exercise. For example, if you can run a 4-minute mile, you would do it in 8 minutes using concept of balaardh. As you maintain exercise program, your capacity will increase, so that 50% 3 months down line will be greater than 50% you do today.

When done this way, you will be able to enjoy exercise and you will stay with it longer, and you won't have burnout or injuries that often come with working out till you drop. When exercise is done within your comfort zone, it is also nourishing to your heart and emotions and enhances your sense of overall well-being.

Exercise early in morning. When you work out in morning, exercise helps elevate energy levels for day and promotes more restful sleep at night. If you exercise in evening, you may have trouble settling down to sleep.