Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health yet not enough of us do it. Fewer than 5% of Americans exercise every day and fewer than 20% meet the physical activity guidelines set out by then Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) It has been said that regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. When combined with a healthy diet and abstinence from smoking, regular workouts can help women live five years longer and men seven years longer — even if they start exercising at an advanced age. So why do so few of us have a fitness plan?
The PiYo Workout Plan
One workout plan that is catching on is called PiYo; a combination of yoga and pilates. PiYo results cannot be matched by any other workout. Charlene Johnson designed the PiYo program for Beachbody. It can completely transform your body in 60 days without using weights or causing injury. The yoga/ pilates combination increases your strength and flexibility so you tone your muscles. The PiYo workouts include an aerobic component to burn all that unwanted fat. If you try it, you will be amazed at your PiYo results.
This program can be used by people of all ages. Your starting fitness level doesn’t matter. Everyone is capable of doing this program and achieving the amazing PiYo results. If you are healthy enough to do any exercise, and you might want to check with your doctor as you would before beginning any workout regimen, you will be able to follow this program. It’s easy to follow and full to do. If there’s some move you have trouble with, fear not! Johnson has provided modified ways to do an easier and lower impact maneuver in place of the full throttle version.
If you have any injuries, this workout is still one that you probably can do but you should definitely check in with your physician or physical therapist before starting, that just makes good sense.
The PiYo Diet
The PiYo program is a complete one and there is an accompanying diet plan that will help you achieve the spectacular PiYo results. This is not a starvation diet, it is a healthy, eating plan. Under it, your diet will include 40% carbohydrates, 35% protein and 25% fat (healthy fat!). You need fuel to workout and this will give you that. . When you don’t eat anything at all, your body goes into starvation mode and your metabolism drops like a rock. Plus you end up grumpy and no one wants that.
What Can I Eat on This Diet?
A lot! They break the kinds of foods you should eat into five categories and stress you should have a minimum of 1,200 calories a day. Remember, skipping meals is a great way ti gain, not lose, weight. Their breakdown is:
- Primary Vegetables: Leafy green vegetables (and some others).
- Secondary Vegetables and Grains.
- Fruit.
- Lean Protein: You can’t build muscle without protein!
- Healthy Fats: Olive oil, nuts such as almonds, others. Did you know that people who snack on a few almonds a day tend to be thinner and weigh less than people who snack on other things? It’s true!
Each person is different and each person’s caloric needs are as well. To calculate yours, multiply your weight by 11. That’s what you’ll need to get each day to have the energy you need to make this program work and see the PiYo results.
The bottom line is this is a great program for people who want to get healthy and transform their bodies.