Let's face it, many of us lead sedentary lifestyles these days. Each week we spend hours commuting to work, hours in front of the computer, and hours in front of the TV. This lifestyle can lead to weight gain, posture problems, and lethargy.

The way out of this is to add exercise to the mix. Exercise should be seen as a necessity in helping our bodies and minds function properly, not as something to do someday when we can find the time.

To pull exercise to the forefront of our busy lives we need to find an exercise that we will stick with, and that is enjoyable and motivational. The choice of exercise should also suit our lifestyle and help us achieve our weight goals.

Walking fits the bill for a lot of people. Not only is it something that we can naturally do, without having to have a special talent, but it can work our heart and your muscles. Walking is a free form of exercise and the only cost is a good pair of walking shoes and some comfortable clothes.

The best type of walking is power walking and here are some of the benefits:
* Improved mental well-being with a reduction in stress and anxiety.
* Helps manage body weight and can lead to a reduction in body fat.
* Toned and strengthened muscles.
* Energy boost and improved self-esteem.
* Improved cardiovascular fitness.

So grab a friend and start power walking every day. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel, physically and mentally. If you're new to walking, start with short distances at first, then work your way up. You can also have a goal, like doing the 3 Day Walk For the Cure, to speed you on your way to being fit.

The Dreaded Dieting Plateau

So, you've been losing weight steadily since you started your new weight loss regimen. You're several weeks into it and feeling pretty confident that you'll be reaching your goal pretty soon and... you hit the dreaded dieting plateau. Then it seems like no matter how strict you are with your eating, nothing happens. Your scale must be broken because it's been stuck on that same number for too long now. Sound familiar?

Plateaus are tricky and you can look at them in different ways. You can whine and carry on about how you've failed your diet, or you can feel good about what you've already lost and the fact that you even made it to the plateau level.

It's normal to lose more weight in the beginning, when you have more to lose. You should not really expect to keep losing the same amount of weight week after week. It's important to remember that even if the scale doesn't seem to currently be helping you out, you are still going in the right direction. You may be losing inches or you may be losing fat and gaining muscle. Just remember, the scale doesn't tell the whole story. This is the time to keep on going, not to try drastic unhealthy measures or chuck it all in and start binging.

It helps to have a mental picture; first you climbed down a hill, next you hit a plateau and you have to walk across it before you get to the next downhill. You will get across it! Another helpful visualization is to keep picturing how you will look and feel when you've accomplished your goal. Picture it as if it has already happened.

If you feel you could tighten up your eating habits a bit, then go for it, but only if you can do so without feeling deprived or doing something drastic. Perhaps you want to step up your exercise routine during this time of plateau. This is a great idea if your health permits and, again, you're not doing anything too drastic.

Keep at it and you'll find you've crossed the plateau (and some are wider than others) and started dropping more weight. What a thrill to know you can overcome the temporary hard spots in your life. This isn't just about weight loss but about any areas of your life where you will have plateaus.