Diets That Recommend Physical Activity

A balanced diet combined with physical activity is beneficial to a healthy lifestyle. While some diets promote physical activity, others do not. If you wish to lose weight and improve your health through dieting, choose a well-rounded program that includes a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Avoid fad diets, which tend to be unhealthy, low in calories and combined with physical activity--may be dangerous to your health.

Physical Activity for Weight Loss

Adults should engage in physical activity on a regular basis with the permission of their doctor. Aim for 30 minutes of moderately-intense cardiovascular exercise (power walking, elliptical machine, cycling) five days a week or 20 minutes of intense cardiovascular exercise (running, jumping rope, stairclimber) three days a week, as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine as well as the American Heart Association. Engage in 8 to 10 strength training exercises, completing 8 to 12 repetitions for each exercise. You may wish to seek the advice of a personal trainer, who can teach you proper forms of strength training exercises in order to prevent injury.

The DASH Diet

The DASH Diet, approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Heart Association (and which coincides with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's New Food Pyramid, developed in 2007) is a healthy low-fat and low-calorie diet that promotes regular physical activity. This diet plan includes a variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, legumes, fish and lean meats such as skinless chicken. It is made to follow one of three daily meal plans containing 1,200, 1,800 or 2,000 calories. These calorie amounts are safe enough to coincide with exercise but low enough to lose weight if more calories are expended than taken in.

A Diet Strategy for Life

The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health is a program developed by World Health Organization in 2002 that recommends healthy eating long with regular physical activity. The combination of diet and exercise will help you to lose weight just as long as you are expending more calories than you take in take in through carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. The Global Strategy may be considered more than a lifestyle change than a diet, which is ideal for those seeking ongoing and or permanent weight loss.