Putting on the Pounds...

Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, August/September 2001. Copyright 2003. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

If you’re slightly underweight and feel that putting on a few pounds can give you a more healthy appearance, look no further than a steady, health-conscious increase in your caloric intake, according to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter. To gain a pound per week, simply boost your diet an extra 500 calories a day. Eating foods such as natural peanut butter, whole-grain cereals and dried fruits are important because they are calorie-rich, yet healthy. It is also important to participate in a regular exercise regimen so fat
can be turned into muscle and not flab.

...and Taking Them Off

If taking off some extra weight sounds appetizing, then there are many ways to shed pounds with moderate exercise each day. According to research published in Harvard Women’s Health Watch, a 150-pound woman can burn a quick 150 calories by performing a variety of activities. Bicycling for 38 minutes, gardening for 38 minutes, swimming for 17 minutes and weight training for 20 minutes are among some of the brief activities that can produce said results.