STAYING HEALTHY

Keeping fit is an essential part of any weight-loss programme. But it doesn't necessarily mean spending hours working out at the gym or pounding the pavements. In fact, many everyday activities will help you burn calories and therefore assist you in losing weight. You could be exercising without realising it if you:

Mop and Bucket

Clean your house for 30 mins

Uses up to 135 kcals

Washing a car

Wash the car for 25 mins

Uses up to 100 kcals

Gardening

Garden for 15 mins

Uses up to 100 kcals

Or, if you're keen on getting faster results, a low-impact exercise regime will get rid of even more calories, and also help to tone and strengthen key areas of the body.

Walking boots

Walking for 60 minutes at 3mph

Uses up 198 kcal
Strengthens heart and tones legs

Two Cyclists

Cycling steadily for 40 minutes

Uses up 200 kcal
Strengthens heart, tones legs and bottom and improves endurance

Swimmer

Swimming for 40 minutes

Uses up 200 kcal
Avoids stress on joints and has benefits for the heart and lungs

If you haven't been active recently, we recommend you start with moderate activities and then build up gradually. Work your way up to 30 minutes exercise (of different types) five days a week. Once you're active and want to do more, increase the intensity, duration or frequency of what you do. And try varying the type of exercise to keep yourself interested.