The recipe to longevity and all round vitality has two very important ingredients, they are diet AND exercise. It is all good and well to want to lose weight. Yet what most people do not realize is that when you free yourself of the excess weight, you need to do toning exercises as to prevent saggy skin and firm up your muscles.

When you exercise you burn calories and when you eat you provide your body with the fuel needed to function effectively. So... if you stick to rule of burning more calories than you consume then weight loss becomes inevitable and toning exercises become a necessity.

An important fact to remember when you do toning exercises is that muscle weighs more than fat therefore you should not put too much faith in your scale. In fact, it will probably be best if you stop weighing yourself all together. A scale will give the wrong impression about your weight loss efforts because you will be losing centimeters. Even though you may not be showing much improvement on the scale, does not mean it is not working and should take your measurements at your waist with a tape measure for a more accurate assessment. Remember to measure your fitness by how you feel after climbing stairs instead of how much you weigh.

Aerobics is a form of exercise that is notably affective as a toning exercise tool because it is sweat inducing cardio workout that gets your heart pumping. Aerobics helps burn those calories and firm up those flabby bits. The relentless movements without pause to attain the adrenaline required to increase your heart rate, is sheer exhilaration. Enjoyment is the added benefit to this form of toning exercises and your body learns endurance.

Aerobics helps your fitness levels by strengthening your heart as well as your lungs and tightens muscles making them leaner. It also works your whole body, targeting every muscle through continuous movements and actions. Strengthening as well as toning. Challenging your body by pushing it to the max is an important and fundamental key to achieving weight loss. Remember once you reach that plateau meaning, when you stop seeing results, it means your body is in its comfort zone and needs to switch to a new endurance level. Signifying a change in toning exercises is needed.

There are many forms of aerobics that suit each individual specifically by fitness level so it is important to research which ones are safe for you. Seeking a professional opinion is advised if there are any health issues to be concerned about. These professionals will be able to help choose a good workout program suited just for you and allay any concerns you may have about any type of toning exercises you would like to try.

Toning exercises are hard work. Remember confidence to wear whatever you want and having the feeling of actually liking what you see in the mirror is definitely worth it.

Eat five small meals a day and drink eight glasses of water daily. Again, an important point to remember for fitness sake is that it is not about how much time you spend burning calories but how much you can challenge yourself. Your muscles need to burn more calories for hours after your workout and your energy levels need to sustain you through out your day.

Water aerobic exercises, also known in other terms as water fitness, water exercise, water jogging or water aerobics, offer a low-impact and low-risk way of getting into shape that are effective for people who are dealing with joint problems or arthritis. Even those who have stayed sedentary for a long time will benefit from these workouts because they can be of great help in the process of slowly building a fitness routine.

Water workouts are also known for improving balance, strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility without straining the muscles and joints. By using water as resistance and allowing athletes to engage in exercises that are usually performed on land, they can provide the benefits of aerobic workouts while decreasing the risk of injuries at the same time. You don't have to be a swimmer to participate in water aerobics, as many of the exercises are done in shallow water.

While no single exercise is perfect for everyone, water aerobics comes close by conforming to individual needs, abilities and restrictions. A study in the March 2002 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise came out declaring the pluses of workouts in water. Water aerobics is an excellent addition to any weight loss program since it will ensure an aerobic workout and burn calories without undo stress or strain on the joints. This can help with motivation to continue exercising.

Water aerobic exercises are available in different forms. While most forms can be performed without specialized equipment, others require the use of flippers, floatation devices, water weights, and aquatic shoes. Although aqua aerobics adds less pressure on your muscles and joints, it can still help you burn as many calories as you would when performing land aerobics. In fact, you can burn up to 300-500 calories per session of kicking, jumping, running, or squatting in water.

Aqua aerobics is not only ideal for injured people and the elderly; pregnant women and overweight individuals will also benefit from its low-impact yet high-resistance nature. Water aerobic exercises are also perfect for those who are suffering from back pain, arthritis, and other joint or muscle problems. The water can partially support your weight and slow down your movement so you can easily perform a wider range of movements without hurting yourself. This form of aerobic exercise is also an amazing stress buster because it will relax your body after a long and tiring day of work.

If you would like to have a fun alternative to land exercise then water aerobics might be your choice for fitness and weight loss.

Adrienne Durrett M. Ed.

Adrienne holds a Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education and has had a lifetime of enjoying all things related to the water. Visit Water Fun and Fitness to learn all about the benefits of water aerobics and the many fun activities individuals can participate in....in the water.