Advantages to Exercise....

As a mother of two (18 and 19 year olds) and being the age of 43, I am lucky enough to be slim and fit. I also regularly get comments on how young I look. There has been times when people have thought me to be in my late 20's until I tell them the age of my children and how old I actually am.

When I was in the midst of my eating disorder and ill from undiagnosed Coeliacs Disease I actually looked worse and older then than I do now, as a healthier and more toned person.

Yes it is still hard for me to maintain a good weight level, and to even gain as I need to at the moment for endurance swimming. I have to make sure I am eating enough calories to maintain my energy levels for my training and also my weight gain. I am thankful for having a great Dietitian who was the one who suspected the eating disorder in the first place, when even I wasn't prepared to come to the realization of what it was. When I feel like I am slipping back or need to gain and need help with gaining, I head straight for my dietitian for help.

So here are my advantages of exercising:

1. Looking and feeling younger
2. Maintaining good mental health and alertness
3. Daily dose of Vitamin D, when you exercise outside (swimming, running, cycling, walking, hiking, etc)
4. Camaraderie with those you train with (training partner, personal trainer, running club, swimming club, walking club)
5. Keeping Visceral fat low (this is the fat that stores around your organs and is what causes a lot of issues with stroke, heart attack and many other health issues.

So what is there not to like about exercise, it can be something as simple and a good pace walk, 30 minutes a day, a swim, anything that gets your heart rate up and keep it there for a while, I love a good 7 - 10 kilometer walk in my suburb, that has one of the best hills to your your legs, butt, heart and lungs.

The other part to exercise is your "diet", I really don't like using that word, but I will in the sense that it is, what you eat, not restricting your calories. I think and try to stick to the 80:20 rule, where out of 7 days you stay on target with eating healthy and clean for 5 days, but also allow yourself 2 days to relax and have that bit of chocolate, or wine, or beer, or what ever your heart desires, but...and yes there is a "but" in this, moderation is the word. These 2 days are not for you to binge and undo all the good work you do on the 5 days you stay true. The 2 days are to allow yourself a little treat here and there to let your body know its not being completely restricted of everything you love. I find this is the best way for people who are trying to loose weight and will stick to a new and healthy lifestyle.

Have a great day...

Hayley xx