What weight loss should I be aiming for?

It is recommended that individuals who are trying to lose weight should lose between 1-2lbs per week. To lose 1lb of fat per week we need to burn off an extra 3,500 calories. However, the amount of weight that is burned off carrying out various activities is different for everybody, because it depends on factors such as your current weight and the amount of exercise you do, e.g. the distance you walk. There are metabolic calculations available that will help you to work out exactly how much energy you are expending at certain activities. But be warned, if you work out how much exercise is required to burn off 1lb, it will shock you! The secret is not to get hung up on how many calories you are burning off, just get more active, more often. Remember, exercise does not just burn off calories, it makes you less stressed, improves mood, reduces blood pressure and lowers cholesterol.