Exercising regularly is recommended by the NHS, with many people having a goal of 10,000 steps a day. While exercise doesn’t have a direct impact on weight loss, Dr Michael Mosley, inventor of The Fast 800 diet, has shared why regular movement is “key”.
He explained: “Exercise is key for various reasons. It is amongst the best thing you can do for a long and healthy life.
“While exercise alone will not help you lose the stubborn fat from round your middle, it can be crucial for helping reduce the risk of re-gaining fats as well as lowering blood sugar levels and improving insulin sensitivity.”
Exercising regularly such as walking, running or cycling can help provide the body with a larger calorie deficit.
This will help those looking to lose weight because the body needs to be burning more fuel than it is consuming in order to lose weight.
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“All in just a few minutes. Not only is it effective, but study after study has shown it is much easier to stick to.”
For those who don’t have a lot of spare time, HIIT workouts can be extremely effective for not only weight loss, but also improving stamina.
Healthline explained that HIIT exercises can burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time.
One study compared the calories burned during 30 minutes each of HIIT, weight training, running and biking.
The researchers found that HIIT burned 25 to 30 percent more calories than the other forms of exercise.
While exercise is recommended in order to lead a healthy lifestyle, some experts advise following the 80/20 ratio which means focusing 80 percent on nutrition and 20 percent on regular movement.
Dr Mosley explained: “To make a serious impact on your belly fat, cutting out sugar spikes is key.
“A surprising number of ‘diet’ snacks and drinks are high in sugar and are marketed as diet foods because they happen to be low in fat.
“This is supported by numerous studies.”
The expert advised slimmers to limit their intake of any food or drink containing more than five percent sugar to no more than twice a week.
This includes sweet fruits like mango and pineapple, as well as sugary smoothies and juices.
Dr Mosley also recommended cutting down on the number of carbs eaten such as pasta and bread.
He said: “Replace processed carbs like white bread, chips and pasta with slow-release energy sources, such as brown rice or quinoa.
“Two things will surprise you: the amount of sugar you were consuming unaware, and the speed at which your belly fat will begin to tame itself.”
