If only life were that simple? What these articles tend to omit is the fact that super-rich celebrities have access to top personal trainers, not to mention a lot of free time to spend in the gym. Changing your diet is obviously essential if you hope to lose weight, but getting regular exercise is every bit as important.



Why exercise is so vital

Most people recognise that, in order to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you consume. However, the huge range of benefits that regular exercise brings is largely unknown. They include:

? Weight loss.

? Better muscle tone.

? Stronger bones.

? Improved circulation.

? Increased energy levels.

? Lower heart rate.

? Reduced stress.

? Improved complexion.

? Faster metabolism.

In fact, regular exercise, combined with sensible eating, will bring benefit just about every area of your body. Short-term crash diets might achieve temporary weight loss, but inevitably you will be unable to sustain this as soon as you revert to your old habits.

Addressing your whole lifestyle, and putting in place lasting changes, is the only way of ensuring the weight stays off in the long-term.

Enjoy the gain without the pain

There's a common misconception that exercise = pounding the treadmill hour upon torturous hour. Not so. Increasing your level of physical activities can be as simple as taking the stairs rather than the lift when you get to work, or leaving the car at home and walking to the shop.

These small steps are a great way of easing you into a regime of increased exercise, particularly if you have been largely inactive for some time. Once you've started with relaxing walks in the park, you can gently ramp up your activities. You never know ? you may even grow to love that treadmill!

Exercise should be a fun, rather than an arduous and lonely, pursuit. Think about the things you enjoy and how you can use them to increase your fitness. This might be swimming, football, cycling or some other sport that you took part in as a youngster and have long held ambitions to return to.

Getting fit can be a social activity too. There are countless clubs, teams and activities you can join ? all presenting fantastic opportunities to make new friends and learn new skills along the way.

Eat healthily, exercise regularly and you will soon begin noticing differences you may never have dreamed of beforehand. You have so much to gain by getting fit and nothing to lose but the fat, so start thinking healthy today.

Holistic nutritionist Gillian McKeith advocates exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. She is the author of the newest bestselling book 'Gillian McKeith's Food Bible', and known around the world for her television programme You Are What You Eat.