quit smoking, then losing weight should also be much easier.

First of all remember, everybody is different, bless our hearts, we come in all shapes and sizes. The diet and exercise routine that may work good for one may do absolutely nothing for another. Some fad diets can actually do more harm than good. Doing the wrong exercises may also lead to back problems or worse... a heart attack. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to get some professional advice before starting any strenuous exercise or  strict diet.

Many fitness centers have personal trainers that will help with an appropriate exercise routine

as well as nutrition regime. January is a good time to sign up for one of the tempting new year specials offered at many of the local fitness centers. Once committed with a membership, it will not be so easy to break your resolution.

Sticking to a diet can be really difficult and although several pounds may be lost during the first few weeks,  very often by  Spring time we find they are creeping back on again. Looking at it logically, a person being over the weight they should be, means they must be eating too much food for their size body frame. Therefore, by eating less food and taking in fewer calories, they should lose weight. Keeping active as well as eating the right food is essential to losing weight.  Everyone reading this article is educated enough to know what is meant by "eating the right food" and that we are an overweight nation simply because the wrong food is so much more tempting. Therefore, this column will focus on exercise and activities to burn off those extra calories obtained from the foods that we knew should have been resisted...

but weren't. Although exercise burns excess fat, no amount of activity will stave off the results of gluttony.

Walking is one of the easiest exercises and is said to be one of the best ways to help lose weight and keep fit. All that is needed is a good pair of walking shoes and a sweat suit. A good brisk walk for thirty minutes every day should help melt away those unwanted pounds, and at the same time give that all round good feeling that comes with knowing  you are doing

something positive.

Doing a specific work-out exercise is not the only way to burn off calories and lose weight. Just by keeping yourself active or by doing household chores it is possible to burn off as many as 300 calories.

For example;Re-arrange your bedroom by repositioning heavy furniture around for 35 minutes. Scrub your kitchen floor for 40 minutes. Tidy up your yard for 42 minutes. Spring clean your house for an hour.  You could also roller-skate for half an hour or dance to your favorite music for 35 minutes to burn 300 calories.

Simply changing your lifestyle by parking your car farthest from the exit of the mall or grocery store so that you walk further will burn extra calories. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Taking the dog for a walk in the park instead of letting it loose in the back yard are other ways to lose weight.

According to Reader's Digest.com,  five minutes of stair climbing burns 144 calories. Standing for an hour rather than sitting burns off  36 more calories. Raking leaves instead of using a leaf blower burns 50 more calories every half hour. Chewing sugarless gum burns 11 calories an hour.  Hand-washing the car instead of taking it to the automatic car wash burns an extra 280 calories an hour.  Even playing with the kids, a game of basketball, touch football, or tag can burn off 80-137 calories every 10 minutes.

Whatever your new year's resolution, whether it be giving up smoking, losing weight, quitting drinking or just promising to see more of the family, as long as you don't set your goals too high, there's no reason why you can't carry it through. Well ...at least until 2009.

Have a safe and happy new year.
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