Is a Day of Cheating Healthy?

This is a great question that was asked of me by a friend who participates in my kickboxing class. 

The answer is: yes, as long as the cheating day is in moderation.
(This answer, by the way, refers to dieting only.)


What if pizza is one of your favorite foods and you have deprived yourself of it until all you can think of is the gooey cheese and spicy sauce? By all means, indulge a little and give yourself the taste you crave.  A slice or two for dinner will go a long way. It's eating the entire large pie that's not healthy. 

People have a tendency to want things they can't have. Sticking to a diet is hard enough. Depriving yourself of some favorite foods for long periods of time you will make your miserable. 
 Be happy. Life is short. Eat healthy, eat smart and you can enjoy most of your favorite foods in moderation.

Why is Cardio Essential For Your Fitness Program?

Diets, for the most part, do not work.

There. I said it. I feel better now.

Here is why: your V02 max (the amount of oxygen the body can take in during exercise) is directly proportional to the amount of calories you can burn.

What that means is this: along with good daily food choices, we need to increase our oxygen intake.

Amazingly enough, this is one of the body's adaptations of cardiovascular exercise. So, if you are couch-poatoeing and dieting like crazy and you don't see results, there is hope: exercise to increase your oxygen intake.  Simply add 45-60 minutes of cardio exercise four to five times a week and you should see progress.

For those who have time restraints during the day, remember that three 15-minute sessions still add up to 45 accumulated minutes of exercise.

Stop reading this and get moving. Walk, run, bowl, whatever you love to do that accelerates your heart rate — just do it.

You'll feel better and you'll thank me later.