The Exercise Edge

People who are physically active are more successful at losing—and keeping off—extra pounds of body fat. Physical activity appears to be key in maintaining a healthy weight.

Physical activity burns energy. When you burn more than you consume, your body uses its energy stores, and you lose weight.
Physical activity helps you maintain muscle while you lose body fat. On a weight-loss diet with no exercise, you lose fat, but also, the more metabolically active lean tissue.
Exercise increases your basal metabolic rate for several hours, even after you stop.
Physical activity helps relieve stress.
Regular exercise also has many long term health benefits - even without weight loss!

How to Get Started With Exercise...and Keep it Going!

Variety - Enjoy different activities to exercise different muscles. Walking, dancing, swimming, biking, jogging, stretching, calisthenics, gardening and even housework, are examples of ways to get some activity in your life.

Balance - Do some cardiovascular endurance exercises as well as activity which builds muscular strength.

Moderation - Don't overdo. Aim for 30 - 45 minutes of moderate exercise in your daily routine, most days of the week.

Don't Have Time? Try These:

Get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning, and take a brisk walk to start your day.
Take stairs instead of the elevator.
Park farther away, get off the bus earlier, or skip the bus altogether and walk to class.
Give yourself at least 5 minutes of exercise for every hour of computer time.
Rent an exercise video and work out with it rather than watch TV.

Visit the UGA Department of Recreational Sports website for more ideas on keeping physically active.