Adapting the Paleo diet does not stop at eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and going low carb. You have to realize the importance of exercise while on this diet to achieve success. Some people switch to this diet to lose weight but they do not make the necessary changes to their lifestyle.
Paleo exercise has the same principle with the Paleo diet, to work with your body and not against it. Engaging in physical activities will complement your healthy diet. This is going to strengthen and support your body as you get lean and mean, a fat-burning machine.
The Paleo diet, in which you are supposed to ‘eat like a caveman’, has a multitude of health benefits. Working out carries many health benefits as well. Regular exercise can help improve your immune system, decrease your chances of diabetes, stroke and osteoporosis, promote cardiovascular health and increase longevity.
Exercise is also a great way to reduce stress, improve memory, prevent depression and help you sleep better. The fitness approach to the Paleo diet allows you to enjoy the rewards of healthy eating and less stress all at the same time.
There is no steadfast rule on how to go about one’s exercise routine on the Paleo diet. The current guidelines from the AMA are that all adults should work out 5 days a week for 30 minutes and do strength training the other 2 days for 30 minutes. This will mean 5 days of aerobics to strengthen your heart and 2 days of light weights, resistance bands and/or yoga.
Walking is a great exercise for Paleo dieters. Aim for the recommended 10,000 steps a day. If you want to add fun to your daily exercise, why not go hiking? Swimming, biking and canoeing are also great forms for exercise to supplement the Paleo diet.
Some experts agree that doing too much cardio will keep your body in a “fight or flight” mode. Chronic cardio has the tendency to increase cortisol levels, inflammation and damage from free radicals, which means more wear and tear on the body and a tendency to hang onto fat, especially around the middle of your body. Yoga will give you long, lean muscle to help combat this.
Treat Paleo like a whole body program and you will soon start to see a sleek new you.
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