Weight loss tip: don't be ashamed of being a beginner

Weight loss tip...
Allow yourself to be a beginner - no one starts off being excellent.

Although aerobic activity such as swimming, cycling and brisk walking should boost your breathing, raise your heart rate and break a slight sweat when performed at a moderate intensity, the same symptoms may be experienced during 'easier' exercises and daily activities if you're new to physical activity and/or have excess weight to eliminate.

If you find yourself struggling to sustain the stamina to perform simple tasks such as climbing a set of stairs, taking a leisurely stroll or standing for prolonged periods of time - the common concerns associated with an accumulation of additional weight - don't be ashamed to ease yourself into exercise (slowly) by building up your strength and stamina with less strenuous forms of fitness.

Something as simple as weekly walks may not seem like a 'sufficient' way to eliminate a wider waistline, but by moving more on a regular basis - be it a slow stroll or struggling with the stairs - your cardiovascular system will not only strengthen as your lungs and heart are forced to work harder, but you'll soon be able to sustain the stamina to tackle the more testing training sessions that once left you overwhelmed and ready to give up on your goals.

Top tip: slashing the duration of your daily sessions into smaller segments i.e.starting with 10 minutes a day before building up to 10 minutes twice a day etc, until you feel confident, comfortable and capable of extending the time that you spend exercising is a sensible and sustainable way to improve your overall fitness without increasing your risk of injury, or subjecting your body (and brain) to the unnecessary stress that may stem from you doing too much, too soon.