Be Active

Being physically active uses up calories. In order to lose weight you need to either eat fewer calories, or burn up more by being more active.

Did you know that walking briskly for at least 30 minutes a day for a year could lead to a weight loss of around 5.5kg (12lbs)?

Exercise will help you lose weight

• More of the weight you lose will be fat
• Your metabolism increases (so you use up more energy even when you're resting)

People who have successfully lost weight find that being active is one of the major factors in keeping the weight off. So activity is really important in weight maintenance too.

Like any behaviour change, it's important to think through your reasons for wanting to be more active, and plan ahead for obstacles that might get in the way of your goal to be fitter. There are always benefits and potential downsides of any change. Only when the benefits are more important than the negative aspects of change, will you feel motivated to become more active.

But if you have not been active, don't just go out and run a half marathon like some crazy fellow here, you may die of heart attack. Always consult your doctor before you decide to get active, make sure that you get a clear bill of health from your doctor as he will give you the best advise.