May 15, 2017

In this newsletter . . .

Banishing Dunlops Disease

Dunlops is the extreme opposite of six-pack abs. While only a small number of people ever attain an actual six-pack, a huge portion of Americans reaches the opposite extreme: that of being overweight or obese.

Here is what I mean: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one-third of U.S. adults are not just overweight but obese. That’s not an exaggeration or a typographical error. Three out of ten Americans are obese!

(According to the CDC, overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.)

If you want them, six-pack abs are great. But somewhere between the two extremes of six-packs and Dunlops is the sweet spot where most people would like to be. For good health and appearance, six-packs aren’t essential; but good firm abdominal muscles are required, along with the absence of a thick layer of fat covering them.

If you are overweight or obese, how do you go about achieving a healthy bodyweight? Honestly, if it were easy no one would be fat. Fitness and firmness require a true desire to be fit along with a degree of will power. If you have those, there are two things you must do to reach your goal.

First, and most important, is to stop eating more food than you need. I know that sounds simplistic. But it is the crux of all weight loss methods. To reduce you must consistently consume fewer calories than your body requires for maintaining your current overweight condition.

There are many ways to do it. Programs such as Weight Watchers have been successful for many people. Or working with your doctor or a dietician might be the right path. But beware of diet pills (example) or quick-fix promises. Personally, I find hand-measurement for portion control eating is easy to follow and effective. I describe it here.

Second, you must consistently exercise. Exercise is a key, but perhaps surprisingly, it is in second place. If you don’t first get your calorie intake under control, all the exercise in the world will not burn off the excess fat. To do it right takes a comprehensive approach. If you consistently reduce your calories but without exercising, yes, you can lose weight. However, without proper exercise, too, you will end up thinner -- but flabby.

Here are two how-to-do-it places to get honest help. They are:

Ab Exercise and a Trim Waistline

and, for beginners . . .

Beginning Weight Training

Your comments and questions are always appreciated. Simply click on the "Reply" bottom.

Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com